Iron Maidens

Shelley Thomas and Kath Shortland create an extraordinary array of metalwork at their forge. Neil McKelvie meets Brentford’s iron ladies

Above: Kath Shortland

Not being particularly practical, I must admit that prior to meeting Shelley Thomas and Kath Shortland, the two blacksmiths who share the Victorian forge at Kew Bridge Steam Museum in Brentford, I didn’t have much of a clue how they actually make a living. Apart, of course, from the fact that blacksmiths shoe horses…

‘Most people don’t know what we do,’ smiles Kath. ‘When I meet someone and I tell them that I’m a blacksmith they almost always say, “so you shoe horses then?” We don’t! We can’t! Farriers shoe horses – it’s a very specialised job and they are highly qualified.’ Thank God I hadn’t got round to asking if there was a strong demand these days for shoeing horses in deepest Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing…So, on to my other banker question! There can’t be that many female blacksmiths around, I wonder warily? ‘It is unusual, but there are a few out there,’ Shelley says, to my relief. Both ladies came to the craft by a circuitous route and while Kath is a relatively new arrival at Brentford, Shelley has been based there since 1987. ‘I went to Art School in my thirties to train as a silversmith and jeweller,’ she explains. ‘Halfway through the course I took up an industrial placement at the forge – and naturally had a go at blacksmithing. I loved it and learned so much from Nick Vester, who was the smith at the time. After I finished my degree, I returned to work with Nick and then, in 1990, I started my own business here.’

Kath joined Shelley in 2006. ‘About 15 years ago I decided to get into artwork – previously I’d owned a shop selling wholefoods – and on my foundation course I experimented with lots of materials,’ she recalls. ‘I liked the medium of metal more than clay or wood – I suppose it was just an emotional response. To cut a long story short, I went to Hereford College of Art to study for a vocational HND that combined blacksmithing with art and then did my apprenticeship in Spain.’ Having worked in the UK and Europe, Kath was planning to set herself up in a forge when her son noticed an advert in an artists’ newsletter placed by Shelley seeking someone to join her at Brentford. ‘I came here and it’s been perfect.’

Clearly Shelley and Kath love working at the Steam Museum and enjoy the camaraderie of the other artists and craftspeople who, like them, rent outbuildings and workshops. But it can’t, I imagine, be that easy to secure a place in a forge? ‘They do tend to shut down when a blacksmith retires or dies,’ Shelley admits. ‘However, there’s a network of blacksmiths and when anyone hears about a forge becoming available the word is put out. There are probably six to eight left in West London. Sadly, some have been forced to close because they’re in railway arches and you’re not allowed to have gases in that sort of site any longer.’

Shelley and Kath have distinct styles and client lists, although they do sometimes collaborate on major jobs. When it comes to private commissions, they both prefer to have a client’s input. ‘Most people come to us with an idea of what they want and we can then go from there,’ Shelley tells me. ‘That’s lovely. It’s awful to design from scratch – you think to yourself, “where do I start?” And quite often what the client doesn’t like is more important than what they do! We’re also happy to visit a house or look at photographs to see where an item will be placed and we often liaise with interior designers.’

Shelley worked with local children to create the imposing public archway to Watermans Park in Brentford and she is currently very busy creating wrought-iron fittings for restaurant chains such as Bar Estilo. She also makes mirrors, curtain poles, napkin rings, chess sets, corkscrews, candelabra and handrails and her speciality is ‘wacky, one-off fantasy beds’ which she exhibits at the Erotica show. ‘My only rules for a commission are that it has to be makeable – and I must like it,’ she laughs. So has Shelley ever turned down any ‘unusual’ requests? ‘A chastity belt and a stainless steel bed that could be hosed down – I said no to both immediately!’

Kath chuckles: ‘I’m not as strict because I’m still trying to establish my business and every time I make something I learn a new technique. Unlike Shelley with her beds, I haven’t developed a signature piece that I make more than anything else. I’m happy when a client says, ”can you do this or that?” It could be railings, gates, decorative furniture or metalwork for gardens.’ Kath also holds one-day courses in beginner’s blacksmithing and welding and demonstrates her skills to children who come to the Steam Museum on school visits. Members of the public are also able to ‘play around’ at the forge on Sundays (at a cost of £5 per hour) when Shelley is on hand to advise and supervise. ‘That’s popular. I’ve got a Hatton Garden jeweller coming at the moment and he’s really enjoying developing his skills.’

Both Shelley and Kath are passionate about blacksmithing. ‘While the techniques are exactly the same as always, the contemporary work that we’re producing using those skills is moving the craft forward,’ emphasises Kath. ‘We get such a variety of commissions: something always comes up that means you have to devise a way of achieving it – I love that sort of challenge. For example, currently we’re repairing a boat and also making parts for a classic 1950s lorry.’ Shelley sums up their approach: ‘Basically, if it’s in metal we can make it – or fix it!’

The Forge, Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8.
Call Shelley on 07947 032286, email shelley@shelleythomas.co.uk or visit www.shelleythomas.co.uk.
Call Kath on 07946 176515 or email kshortland@yahoo.co.uk