Blacksmithing and Creative Metalwork Courses
I offer a choice of blacksmithing and creative metalwork courses including:
Blacksmithing Experience - One Day Courses
Blacksmithing Skills - Longer Term Courses
Metal Sculpture & Welding For Artists Courses
Blacksmithing for beginners
I teach two people maximum in the forge at any time so my courses are great for beginners and improvers as I am with you every step of the way.
You will learn to shape hot metal using traditional techniques with a coke forge, anvil, hammer and hand tools.
The day; Following a H & S talk, you will start by forging a simple ‘S’ shaped hook which covers basic forging techniques; drawing down a point, scrolling, using the anvil and managing your fire.
The remainder of the day is spent following my tuition to make a piece to your own design. Â If design work is not your thing, I can help you with set pieces ie; garden bird feeder, poker, candle holder, etc.
These courses are suitable for all abilities and I aim to ensure that attendees go home with a finished piece of their own work.
Please note; I do not teach knife or blade making!
There are a limited number of course days available through the year, usually on a Friday – not weekends. Â Please note that I fit the courses in between my main commissioned work.
Only £180 per person per one day course.  BOOK HERE let me know the date you want to come.
BUY A GIFT-VOUCHER FOR A ONE-DAY BLACKSMITHING COURSE HERE
Further blacksmithing and metal work courses:
Other courses are available:
One-to-one blacksmithing days – for people that want the forge to themselves or want to learn specific techniques like welded sculpture.
Long term Improver Blacksmithing and  Metal Sculpture Techniques.  Courses for those people wanting to develop their skills or specialise in a particular technique – please enquire for more details.
All protective equipment and tools will be provided – you will need to bring lunch and ideas for what you would like to make!
Blacksmithing Course Dates for 2026
Blacksmithing One-Day courses are for for a maximum of two people at a time. Â
You can book a one-to-one session if you prefer to have my undivided attention or to learn MIG or fire-welding.
I will aim to match you with someone of a similar ability if you come on your own. Somtimes there might be only one person on the course!
 Courses with Melissa are currently fully booked.
More dates will be added for 2027 – contact me to get added to the waiting list!
FAQs
What makes your course different?
My course is for a maximum of two people per day.
It only costs £180 per person per day – a small materials charge may occur if you make something bigg – we will talk this through at the start of the day.
You get to make your own designs – bring a few ideas with you – look online or do some photos or sketches of your own.
You can choose to make a simple forged item following one of my designs.
My course allows you to be experimental and create a piece of sculpture work – my courses are more flexible in approach than some other courses.
I aim to have as little intervention in your creation as possible – you should go home feeling like it is your work not mine!
You get a teacher with over 30 years teaching experience guiding you through your day.
The difference between my courses and others can be described as mine are ‘more millimetres than inches’!
Blacksmithing is a more refined craft than a lot of people think and I teach to get the best out of the individual students irrespective of their experience.
What can I make in a day?
Very hard for me to say without having seen you work with a hammer!
I use the ‘S’ hook making exercise as a guide to tell me what you should be able to achieve.
I wouldn’t plan on making a gate in a day so it is unlikely that a beginner will be able to do this too!
Look at the  Pinterest board or Flikr site to see examples of what has been made on my other day courses.
On previous day courses students have made; a small sculptural piece for the garden, a candle stick, a loo roll holder, a toasting fork, a bird feeder, a lantern hook, a curtain pole, a flower!
I am able to provide set pieces for you to copy – a wall mounted hook or a poker with a spiral handle are popular.
Is it hard work?
I try to make sure that you do get the full experience of working as a blacksmith.
You will be stood up all day!
It can be hard on your hands if you are not used to working with a hammer all day.
I try to ensure that I choose the right size project for you based on how you get on with your S hook!
I have lots of different size hammers to suit different hand sizes, abilities and strengths!
What do other people say about your course?
‘It’s a bit different to other blacksmithing courses I have done – you (Melissa) focus on refining technique and quality of work rather than a bash it out kind of day.’
‘V and N really enjoyed it – I was delighted and amazed at what they produced in one day. Very proud of their hard work and yours!’
Cancellations
Unfortunately, I do get cancellations for my one day courses so if you would like to be added to the waiting list in case of a last minute cancellation, please let me know.
Following an unprecendented number of cancellations for my one day courses, I have had to review my T’s & C’s as shown below:
I now take the full fee to confirm a booking.
Please note: the full one-day fee of £180.00 is non-refundable for courses cancelled (including postponing your day) with less than 14 days’ of the date booked.  If you need to cancel or rearrange your booked day, please let me know.
For unwanted vouchers, they can be refunded within 3 months of issue: there is an admin charge of £40.00 for this. Or the full value of the voucher can be used towards buying some of my lovely, forged items in stock or towards a commissioned item.
Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
If you have been given a voucher and you don’t want to do a day blacksmithng, please contact me to arrange exchanging the remaining value of your voucher for a stock item I have made, or alternatively, how to use the value of the voucher towards a commissioned item.