Meet the blacksmith…
About the Blacksmith
As you might have guessed, the man pictured above with the daft look and half a dozen pairs of tongs is me.
My name is Toby Forbes Gower, and I’m an award-winning blacksmith and the founder of Design In Metal, creating bespoke forged metalwork and architectural ironwork from my workshop in Kent.
Blacksmithing began as a teenage hobby after I attended a course through my local Scout group, 1st Woodchurch Scouts. From there, I took every opportunity I could to get in front of an anvil and forge.
At 19, I moved to Hereford to study Artist Blacksmithing at Hereford College of Arts. After three years, I graduated with a first-class degree and was awarded the Stanley Allcard Cup by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, alongside several other awards recognising design and creativity within the craft.
From Hereford College of Arts to Design In Metal
After graduating, I established Design In Metal and began taking commissions in 2016. Since then, I have designed, forged, fabricated and installed an extraordinarily varied range of work—from small decorative pieces and furniture to bespoke gates, railings, handrails, balustrades and staircases.
Although much of my work is commissioned across Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London, pieces made in the forge have found homes much further afield.
Over the years, I have developed a broad understanding of both traditional blacksmithing and contemporary metal fabrication. This combination allows me to approach each commission without being restricted to a particular style or process. Whether a project calls for traditional hand-forged joinery, modern fabrication or a combination of the two, the aim is always to find the right solution for the piece and the setting.
Made to Last
I pride myself on creating work that is considered in its design, carefully executed in its manufacture, and finished and installed to the highest standard.
More often than not, my ambition is quite simple: to make things that will still be functioning long after I’m gone.
In a world of mass-produced products and planned obsolescence, there is something immensely satisfying about making an object specifically for its owner and its surroundings. Good bespoke metalwork should not only look right; it should feel right, function properly and stand the test of time.
Have a Project in Mind?
Whether you are looking for a hand-forged handrail, bespoke garden gate, table, chairs, chandelier, staircase, fire basket, or even a particularly elaborate bottle opener, I’m always happy to discuss an idea.
Every commission begins with a conversation. Get in touch to discuss your project and arrange a free, no-obligation initial design and quotation.