As the morning mist lifts off the bay, the City Link traffic is beginning to hum steadily and most of us are just getting geared into the day. But at Bent Metal, a most unusual studio in South Melbourne, the coke fire is already glowing in the dim light and the rhythmic clang of hammer on metal is resonating down the cobbled alley leading in from the street. Here you will find Nick Attfield, qualified as a journeyman in the craft of blacksmith by the ancient British guild – which was established by prescription to King Edward 11 in 1325! Nick is not exactly your traditional blacksmith, toiling over horseshoes and making early carriage wheels. These services are not much in demand any more and fortunately Nick is able to indulge in more freely creative work. Custom orders keep him busier than the 12-hour day provides time for, working on anything from a fireguard or balustrade to a chandelier or TV cabinet. It was actually in Australia that Nick discovered this ancient craft, and quite by accident. Whilst he was born in the UK, both Nick’s parents were Australian, so at 17 he set off for an antipodean adventure. He spent nearly 5 years in a computing job for a textiles firm and then, looking for a change, picked up a temporary job as an engineering assistant. After a week of drilling holes in metal, he was taught how to weld and sent out on site.

A custom designed newspaper rack.

A reproduction of an 18th Century wall sconce for candles, traditionally made by hot splitting the metal then fire welding to create the curly bits - about 36cm high.

His first experience of watching the metal melt under the welding arc was a truly magical moment for Nick and he was hooked - although it was 9 years before he did the welding course at RMIT. It was here that the opportunity to fulfil the passion was realised. In the basement was a forge, filled with the hiss of hot metal plunging into the water and the space to learn and experiment. After completing a short course in Blacksmithing, Nick took up an informal apprenticeship in Adelaide and guided by master blacksmith Geoff Barnes, further developed his craft making tables, gates and fences. In 1999 Nick headed for Hereford, England to gain more knowledge and skill at the college for smithing, earning the Journeyman’s Certificate at the end of an intensive year. “Smithing is far more widely recognised in the UK and the standard of tuition very high. It was an incredibly rewarding year,” says Nick. The following year an opportunity arose to share the Bent Metal studio with David Wood, better known as ‘Woody’, who has an established business making balustrades, fences and gates among other things, as well as contemporary sculpture. Bent Metal operates as a uniquely autonomous collective with heat, noise, space and good humour being shared by Nick, Woody, his assistant Fred White – who is also a sculptor – and other visiting artists. “There is nothing easy about crafting large pieces of iron into intricate shapes,” Nick adds, “ but it is incredibly fulfilling. You have to love it and I know I have found my niche”.

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