HEREFORD College of Arts is celebrating 20 years of delivering university-level artist blacksmithing with Forged, an exhibition of artists’ work, to include examples from a host of HCA alumni.

The exhibition, which features the work of 19 artists, will be on show at HCA’s Folly Lane Campus until October.

HCA’s university-level BA (hons) course in artist blacksmithing is the only undergraduate programme of its kind in the country. The teaching forge, based at Holme Lacy is the largest in Europe, and as a result, the course attracts students from all over the world.

It has helped to establish the careers of hundreds of artist blacksmiths who design and make gates, sign brackets, furniture and sculptures among many other beautiful and practical pieces for art and everyday living. The event, exhibition and anniversary are all marked in an accompanying book, Forged, which includes essays and commentaries from many HCA alumni who are part of the exhibition.

“My fascination with iron and blown glass started when I was at Hereford College of Arts in 2001,” says Jenny Pickford, one of the exhibiting artists. “Since then all my sculptures have utilised the combination of these materials.

I have been a sole trader for the last 12 years, and my works are now all over the world; my four metre agapanthus flower (pictured above) is in Melbourne, having previously been hired for the Chicago flower show.”

Forged is open to the public, free of charge, until Friday, October 4. Opening times are Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm. The exhibition will also be open on weekends during h.Art (Herefordshire Art Week); Saturday and Sunday, September 7 and 8, Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15, from 11am to 5pm.

For more information about the Forged exhibition and artist blacksmithing at HCA, visit the blog at hca.ac.uk/HCA-live/artistblacksmith.