Last week, Richard was selected by Country Living magazine as one of their 40 Best Artisans. It’s an honour that celebrates not only his craftsmanship, but the values that sit at the heart of our workshop: care, integrity, quality, and a love of making things that last.
We’re especially delighted that eight of the 40 artisans, including Richard, will receive personal mentoring from Dame Emma Bridgewater, a powerhouse of creativity and one of the most influential makers of our time.
While the award highlights Richard’s skill at the anvil, it also marks a journey we have built together. Between us, we’ve spent years shaping this business, from the earliest days of working out of a small space and wondering if anyone would notice us, to seeing our pieces in homes across the country. It hasn’t been glamorous; it’s been hands on, exhausting, exhilarating, and deeply meaningful.
No business grows on the strength of one person alone, and ours certainly didn’t. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to work with a number of talented people: makers, designers, artists, writers, video creators, photographers, and friends who offered encouragement at the right moments. Each brought something different, each helped in their own way, and each shaped a little piece of who we are today.
And central to this journey has been our forge team and our blacksmiths, skilled craftspeople who have stood beside us, day in and day out. Their expertise, dedication, and steady hands have carried this business through every chapter. They have helped turn raw steel into work we are proud to put our name to, and their craftsmanship forms the backbone of Made by the Forge.
Equally vital are the people working quietly behind the scenes. Our website was purpose built by a very talented web developer, and those who run our Google Ads and digital presence are master craftsmen in their arena. In a world where so much depends on being visible and reachable, their expertise has kept Made by the Forge in the forefront. Their work helps customers discover us, understand what we stand for, and connect with the pieces we create. We would not be where we are today without their skill and dedication.
But the core of Made by the Forge — the heart, the vision, and the daily graft has always been ours. It’s been built by countless early mornings, late nights, long weekends, mistakes, experiments, sparks, ideas, and sheer determination. This award feels like a recognition of all those hours, all those decisions, and all that passion.
To everyone who has been part of our journey, whether you’re currently working with us or supported us in the past: thank you. Your contributions, large or small, have been appreciated.
Most of all, we are grateful to our customers — the people who believe in handmade, who value craft, and who allow us to keep the fire burning bright.
Here’s to the road ahead, to the work still to come, and to the joy of making things that matter.
Juliet and Richard
Richard Fishenden – Made By the Forge blacksmith
photographed in September 2015 by Andrew Montgomery for Country Living Magazine UK
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.