LORD OF THE KERCHINGS

Craftsman's hand-made swords sell for up to £10k

- HANNAH COTTRELL & ELEANOR FLEMING

A SWORDSMITH who sells his work for up to £10,000 a time has credited Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings for keeping his craft alive.

Rob Miller took up his craft 33 years ago after moving to Torrin on the Isle of Skye in 1991 following the end of a relationship.

He taught himself to make intricately crafted swords from steel, which start at £700, and now has a three-year waiting list for his pieces.

And he said the fantasy TV shows and film franchises have helped to keep him in work.

The father of one recalled learning his art from scratch in the early 90s before the internet by reading magazines and writing letters to booksellers to find novels to learn how to make swords.

Rob, 60, has now set up a workshop in the back garden of his home, where he lives with his wife of 15 years, Meg, who is also an artist, taking between a week and several months to perfect each of his commissions.

Rob said: "While I'm not the last of the living swordsmiths, I almost was for a moment there and I feel I was someone who snatched it back from becoming completely redundant.

"There were a few people worldwide but there weren't that many back when I started.