Nic Westermann

Nic Westermann has been forging iron for twelve years, he is self taught having one half hour lesson from the blacksmith that he bought the forge from. Not having any formal training means that Nic's work has evolved to be less formulaic than some college taught smiths. His style and approach is distinctive, with a preference for traditional techniques applied to smaller intricate work, he is well know for his delicate leaf work. Mild steel is used for most of his work although pure iron, a softer metal is chosen for the finest leaves that he does. Nic has an interest in forged work that will be used, such as kitchen utensils, fire irons and more recently woodworking tools. For tool making recycled steel is used exclusively such as files and car springs.
The processes of Nic’s work is important to him, where economically possible handtools are used with an emphasis on shaping the steel hot rather than grinding metal to size. The work is never painted, the original finish from the forge is coated with beeswax to give a tactile and honest finish.
    The inspiration behind his work largely comes from the countryside, Nic has a degree in environmental science and his leaf and vine work and especially branching patterns that these make are drawn form these studies.