ONE of the UK’s only female blacksmiths is in the running for a top regional business prize.
Single mum Charis Jones, 37, from Leek, has been shortlisted in the Lord Stafford Awards, which recognise and encourage the development of collaborative relationships between businesses and universities.
She set up her business, Sculpted Steel, in October 2008, after qualifying from Staffordshire University with a degree in 3D design craft.
The business, which is based at Beaver Hall Equestrian Centre in Bradnop, acts as an outlet for Ms Jones’s sculpted forged metal products, with support from the university.
Having gone back into education at the age of 32, Ms Jones decided to start up in business as an artist blacksmith after working with forged steel on one of the modules on the course.
She said: “When I was doing the course, I found myself drawn to the physical process of forging steel.
“Knowing that the almost magical transformation from a lump of metal to a work of art is due to a combination of my own strength and skill is immensely satisfying.
“As well as being a success in business, I am also keen to widen the understanding and appreciation of blacksmith art to the public, especially to ensure that people do not think that forged metal belongs to a bygone age but can fit into modern, contemporary design.” Only weeks after setting up in business, Ms Jones won a commission to provide three sculptures for the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery regeneration project and has also been commissioned to make the award trophies for the Stoke Your Fires animation festival.
She has now been shortlisted in the Entrepreneurial Spirit category.
Awards patron and chairman of the judging panel Lord Stafford said: “Charis is notable not only for being in a market traditionally dominated by men, but also for the way the early success of her business has been so closely linked to the University of Staffordshire.
“Despite only having been in business for a short period of time, her entrepreneurial spirit really does shine through and I am impressed by the way the university has played its role in supporting her.
“I suspect we will be hearing a lot more from Charis and Sculpted Steel in the years to come and wish her the very best of luck for the awards.” The winners of the Lord Stafford Awards will be announced at a gala dinner held at Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre in Warwickshire on Thursday, November 12.