EVENTS

My father, artist blacksmith Phil Johnson, founder of P. Johnson & Company at Ratho Byres Forge, passed away in December 2022 at the age of 80. Phil was passionate about forging, passionate about BABA and passionate about passing on skills. He believed in the importance of giving those new to smithing valuable experience in a vibrant, commercial, busy workshop, such as Ratho Byres Forge.

Myself and partner, Pete Hill, have this same passion for smithing, for BABA and for passing on viable, useful skills to the next generation of smiths who are creating and leaving their own legacy on the built environment. To this end we take on several smiths each year for work experience at Ratho Byres Forge.

Over the past year, alongside Steve Rook, a fellow smith and BABA stalwart, we have hosted a series of weekend skills workshops at Ratho Byres Forge. These have been well attended and alongside new skills being acquired, friendships have established and a level of creative excitement has been generated as these new skills are explored further.

We have hosted many and varied masterclass events at Ratho Byres Forge in the past, most recently Will Maguire from Australia, and in 2018 Jake James from Vancouver Island, Canada, both big names in the world of contemporary artist blacksmithing.

Pete and I, as Phil did, feel that it is important to support the next generation of smiths to ensure that our craft continues to develop and we, as smiths, remain excited and passionate about the forging of metal.

We want to celebrate, enthuse and encourage the young smiths within our profession that are doing interesting creative work, pushing boundaries and taking the craft of the contemporary artist blacksmith forward in a healthy and positive direction.

Working together on a project, as we have seen on past masterclasses, drives this passion and deepens one’s understanding of how we can manipulate steel with forging processes while working alongside other smiths who are sharing their knowledge.

We hope to make “The Phil Johnson Masterclass” an annual experience and for this, the initial event, we have invited Jacob Edwards and Kit Garnett as the designers and team leaders.
Both are established young smiths, each having graduated with a degree in Artist Blacksmithing from Hereford College of Arts in 2019 and both are currently running their own successful forges where they are each working to commission.

Both of them have developed a design for a sculptural piece to be forged at Ratho Byres Forge. Jacob and Kit will each work with a team of 6 smiths to produce their individual sculptures. Jacob is influenced by traditional Japanese architecture, bold forms celebrating the forging process. Kit’s influence is the flowing lines and distortion from the Art Nouveau movement creating intricate forms exploring the forging process and connections.

The two final designs are excitingly different and working on these two projects side by side is going to make for an extremely interesting weekends forging for those that attend.

Title: ‘Perspectives’

This sculpture is an exploration in my interest of structures and how we can perceive them as such a massive thing, when in reality they pale in comparison to the vastness of the universe. Inspired by Thomas Telford and his Craigellachie Bridge, as well as the cast concrete pylons in Mallorca. The sculpture will stand 3 meters tall with the main supports being made from 100x20mm steel, with two shooting stars crossing the top.

Title: “Divergence II”

Originally inspired by early 1900s Art Nouveau jewellery, the design highlights forged processes and connections in a structured, intricate form.

We aim to have both Jacob and Kit, and their respective teams, create their design over two days. Ratho Byres Forge is well equipped with various power hammers, hydraulic presses and several forges, furnaces and induction heater, which will perhaps give those attending the opportunity to work in new and maybe different ways than they are familiar with.

The Phil Johnson Masterclass will be held on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October 2026 at Ratho Byres Forge, Freelands Road, Ratho, Scotland, EH28 8NW

There are 12 places available and the cost per person is £130.00 which includes lunch both days.

To reserve your place please email rathomasterclass@gmail.com and we will send details of how to make payment to confirm your place.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide accommodation, however, there are various options close by. There is room for camper vans at the workshop and there is a camp site within 4 miles of the forge, which also has lodges. There are various budget hotels even nearer, camping pods or chalets at the "Lost Shore, Surf Resort" just outside the village and several other, more luxurious, options. Edinburgh is accessible by air at relatively low cost, if booked in advance, and we are less than 3 miles from the airport. There is also a train station nearby and we would be willing to collect and drop folk at either of these if needed. Please feel free to get in touch if you want advice on accommodation or travel.

We look forward to welcoming you to Ratho Byres Forge in October!

Website info:

www.jemetaldesign.com
www.kitgarnett.com
www.rathobyresforge.co.uk