News » Nigel Barnett: Spring Conference 2011
Nigel Barnett will be the lead demonstrator at Spring Conference 2011, April 27th – May 1st in Vista, CA.
Nigel was born in Essex in the South East of England in 1963 and grew up in the small market town of Braintree, which was known for its iron works.
As a child he would play in the coal yard and fields next to the foundry and at night he would watch in awe as the night sky was illuminated by the opening of furnaces.
School was accessed via the lane that ran past the foundry, which often made for a very slow walk to school, though he was never late for art or metalwork. Leaving school aged 15 yrs Nigel was offered a position as trainee welder in the town where he grew up and by the age of 18 he had achieved A.S.M.E. IX coding and travelled the country as a pipe welder working on some of the many large construction sites of the 1980’s.
Nigel developed an interest in steam power and with his codings became a valuable asset to the steam preservation fraternity, restoring and maintaining steam powered traction and locomotive boilers, later specialising in sub contract welding of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and continues this interest today.
In the mid-nineties, following a fall on a construction site which saw him out of work for many months, Nigel decided to return to the work he loved: forge work and the creation of metal art forms.
Nigel trained at Hereford College in traditional forge work under the supervision of Paul Allen. Nigel’s forge and workshop is set in the heart of rural Norfolk, includes a showroom, museum of blacksmithing and a 4 ½ acre sculpture trail, with indoor and outdoor working areas of around 2 acres and uses an assortment of heavy machinery including power hammers and presses.
Hand tools play a large part in the production and repair of a vast range of ironwork both old and new and including many pieces which have to replicate original period design for the heritage sector.
Nigel often works on public art and restoration projects including works for the Royal Family and public park entrances. He has recently completed a 26 mile sculpture trail along a public foot path that occupies the former Marriotts Way railway line, using reclaimed track to create seating and sculptures, and is currently involved in the restoration of an undershot watermill.
Always keen to demonstrate and learn, he frequently opens his doors to students from home and abroad and recognises the importance of shared knowledge.
Nigel has recently spent 3 years as chairman of British Artist Blacksmiths Association (B.A.B.A.), is a Fellow of the Worshipful company of Blacksmiths and proudly holds a bronze medal. Some of his pieces can be viewed at www.artist-blacksmith.co.uk
Comments
None yet.
Add a comment