PLAYING WITH FIRE

Modern art comes in all mediums – and blacksmith Bex Simon is creating joyous work in her North Devon studio

- Bex Simon

Artists work in many mediums – but few imbue the physicality of metalworking. But for blacksmith Bex Simon it fulfils her passion for building installations.

Bex’s journey to this unusual medium began with a degree in three-dimensional design. “But realised I couldn’t swing a hammer properly,” she says. “So went to study blacksmithing at Hereford College of Technology and ended up studying there for two years.” She returned to her studies with a further two year course in 2015 and won a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship to study at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in Shoreditch, where she has been studying Geometry.

“I have been creating commissioned work since 1999 but my dream is to create my own artwork from my studies, design and building installations in galleries and outdoor spaces.”

She set up BexSimon in 1999, exhibiting regularly at RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower shows, mainly working for private clients. Like many artists, the path to pure creativity was paved with more practical work. “In 2010 my husband Dave joined the business after we created a cast iron kitchen range as a result of a TV programme called High Street Dreams.