Forged Signatures

Lucy Quinnell’s Fire and Iron represents artists working with ferrous and non-ferrous metals. With her blacksmith husband Adam Boydell, and in collaboration with others, Lucy produces public artworks and private commissions. She carries on a family tradition of blacksmithing dating from the 1930s, with iron founding roots in the Surrey furnaces of the 1500s.

“The various metals, and the diverse ways in which they can be worked, offer enormous versatility and potential. Lettering makes frequent appearances in our field, but is rarely approached with any great academic sophistication. There are exquisite examples, but most often we are looking at compromise, experimentation and “needs must” invention. There is charm, however, and there are flashes of genius, as makers hammer, stamp, cut, chisel, weave, wreathe, inflate, cast, rivet, weld, engrave and etch their way to achieving letters. Letter Exchange has inspired the blacksmithing world; my request for examples has triggered debate, and a valuable international unearthing and sharing of images. I have assembled an iron A-Z, from Alan Fletcher’s Alphabet Gates to the grave signatures of the German Zimmermann workshops.”

Lecture starts at 6:30pm prompt

Venue: The Artworkers Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT

Entrance on the door: members £6, non-members £8, students £4

Season ticket (8 lectures for the price of 6): members £36, non-members £48, students £24