Toby Bowles

This week, we have been assessing Three Dimensional Specialist Processes (3DSP), a module where students continue to produce practice pieces in terms of improving their techniques and skills in blacksmithing, alongside taking on a technical project related to their emerging practice.

There were two parts to the project that Toby took on exploring for his 3DSP module. He explored the application of a range of finishing and surface treatments and also looked at how metal could look cracked and ripped. He did some great tests with wrought iron and has subsequently been off at the scrapyard trying to find more wrought iron. Toby has set up a placement at Chris Topps over the summer to see how he works wrought iron as well.

Toby is a great photographer and produced an immaculate technical book to accompany this project, detailing not just the processes he used but the qualities that he was trying to capture.

3DSP is a real solid basis for him to base his emerging practice; I am sure there will be lots more testing and experimenting to follow.

Del