Earth Fire Iron

Alan Evans and the New Iron Age

Editors: George Breeze, Lesley Greene and Mary Greensted

Dimensions: 170mm x 240mm, 128 pages, paperback

Earth, Fire, Iron: Alan Evans and the New Iron Age is a handbook about

contemporary blacksmithing inspired by the outstanding artist blacksmith, Alan

Evans (1952-2023) whose brilliant conception of a set of gates in 1980 for the

Treasury at St Paul’s Cathedral, London was seen as game-changing for the craft.

With contributions from leading voices in the artist blacksmith community, it provides

an overview from Evans’ roots in the Cotswold Arts and Crafts movement to exciting

developments in the craft since 1980 as makers and educators stepped up to the

challenges and positives of blacksmithing and began to engage in constructive

thinking about ways of tackling environmental issues and climate change. The book

includes an overview of the important and pioneering Artist Blacksmithing course at

Hereford College of Arts and an introduction to issues around commissioning new

work. Case studies by seven artist blacksmiths at different stages in their careers

brings all these issues to life. Earth, Fire, Iron will inspire and assist both students

and established makers and open everyone’s eyes to the potential of this elemental

craft.