Bex Simon – Artist Blacksmith – Biography

Bex’s career as an artist blacksmith started by working with clay and fabrics whilst undertaking a Foundation in Art at the Surrey Institute. Whilst attending a demonstration of forging and welding by blacksmiths, she instantly recognised blacksmithing was a skill she had to explore and incorporate into her art work.

“I’m fascinated by the fact it is such a hard industrial material which can be manipulated into apparently soft flowing organic forms yet still maintains its robust characteristics.”

It was around this time that Bex discovered her main influences and developed her unique organic style.

“My inspirations are nature, textures and the environment, also the Art Nouveau movement and artists like Gaudi and Lalique. Gaudi has been a major influence on me. I just adore his work and how he takes shapes from nature and uses them as a template for a design, something I incorporate into my own design process.”

Bex went on to gain a Degree in 3D Design from the Surrey Institute working in metal before going on to achieve a National Certificate and a Diploma in Blacksmithing from Hereford College of Technology.
In recognition of Bex’s potential as an up and coming artist blacksmith she has been awarded two bursaries from the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths and a ‘starting up’ loan from the Prince’s Trust to help kick-start her career.
Bex began trading as an artist blacksmith in 1999 and has since gone on to create bespoke pieces of functional art for countless happy clients.

“Design is an important part of my work. I enjoy developing ideas with my clients to produce a piece that is unique to them”.