I am an award winning bladesmith based on the west coast of Ireland who specializes in crafting knives as contemporary tools designed for both professional kitchens & home cooking. These knives are not just functional but also a source of creative inspiration.

As an artist, scientist, maker & chef I’ve developed a life-long holistic belief in seasonal produce, sustainable materiality & circular living by re-imagining waste from the seashore, skips, industrial salvage; even high-dining experiences with ingredients destined for landfill.

I draw my motivation from the stories concealed within materials, giving new life & purpose to found & recycled resources. By building a story of the history of these materials I hope to change the lens for the spectator that encounters the work.

My practice allows one foot in the two worlds of craft & visual arts – in the intersection is the narrative of why we make what we make & how that could help inform the future we want to create.

Projects

THISISWHATIDO

My work is a testament to a progressive journey, drawing inspiration from centuries-old techniques while seamlessly integrating them into the contemporary era. Each blade I create is a culmination of careful selection of base materials, representing my evolving knowledge of metal fusion and forging.
My work often features high carbon steels nestled among unexpected gems like wrought iron cartwheels, whiskey barrel straps or ships anchor chains. Handles are ergonomically shaped from timbers of long-forgotten orchards, exotic limbs of storm damaged trees from Irish Estate Houses, or relics from millennia-old forests found buried in the boglands.

UNDER ONE ROOF

We are building a creative arts and crafts making space offering transformative educational experiences, transforming products and practice. We are a not for profit, social enterprise, established by makers for makers, from learner to professional. We have a voluntary board and management team and members who avail of the open access, shared space and equipment.
We also engage in training and contract work, and advocate for making-based enterprises and product design across Ireland. Any financial surplus from our activities is reinvested within the organisation for the growth and improvement of its services to makers. Participation is welcome.

NIFE

Marine plastic pollution and post-consumer and industrial waste are pressing global issues that require innovative solutions. By recovering and reusing waste materials, we can transform these challenges into opportunities for a sustainable future. NIFE leads this movement, offering a product that embodies the principles of transformation and sustainability. It encourages consumers to make informed choices, understand the materials they use, and recognize their role in protecting our planet. Through NIFE, we can promote a culture of transformational thinking and create a robust value chain that supports environmental conservation and economic growth.

About the approach

The development of tools is a defining aspect of Homo sapiens. Arguably, the knife was one of our first tools. Today, it remains an indispensable part of daily life, connecting people across food traditions, generations, & geographical locations through materials, techniques & shared skills.

As an artist I look to deepen my own practice through opportunities to learn & preserve this culture & ideas. The connections between community & social history have allowed me to bridge my craft practice into a visual arts narrative whilst sharing my skills through education & exhibitions.

Now as we grow our community crafts &cookery school we look to educate & inspire others with key beliefs:

• Importance of materials used, production methods, fuels & final products & their part in a circular economic environment, both locally & globally
• Growth & use of local / seasonal produce to promote a healthy lifestyle & place as a global citizen
• Respect for heritage skills, whilst allowing development of continued & refined practice in the modern world