Reclaimed Metal Art Workshops
At My Sussex Forge
Step into my forge, try the tools and create your own unique piece of reclaimed metal art to take home.
No previous experience is needed. Workshops are open to all abilities. Ages 18 +
Half Day & Full Day Workshops
Each workshop is hands-on and limited to two people. You will have the chance to try a variety of metal art techniques, then create your own piece with Alan by your side to help you.
Half Day Workshop £150pp
4 Hours. Maximum of 2 people.
Try out a range of metal art techniques and create a small piece of metal art of your own.
Full Day Workshop £280pp
8 Hours. Maximum of 2 people.
More time to develop your own idea and have longer to practice techniques.
One to One Masterclass
If you have a particular piece you would like to make, or simply want the forge to yourself, I also offer one-to-one metal art masterclasses.
We can spend between one and three days working on a more ambitious piece, using items from my stock of materials, with the project planned around what you would like to create.
1, 2 or 3 days
Contact Alan to discuss your idea
What Happens at a Metal Art Workshop
These are hands-on workshops. The emphasis is on trying the different techniques for yourself rather than watching demonstrations. You will make an artwork of your own to take home with you.
Half Day Metal Art Workshop
We start with a brief introduction to the forge, the equipment and safety, before looking at the main processes we will use. This includes forging, plasma cutting and MIG, TIG and Stick/Arc welding. After this, we go straight into making.
I will guide you through the techniques needed to make your finished piece. Together we will create a small piece of sculptural metal art that is yours to keep and take home.
No previous experience needed. I will show you the techniques as we go.
Duration: 4 hours
Price: £150 per person
Participants: Maximum two
Full Day Workshop
If you want to spend more time in the forge, choose a full-day metal sculpture workshop.
A full day gives us longer to work through an idea and spend more time on the making process. The exact project will depend on what you would like to create, the materials involved and what can realistically be achieved during the session.
If you have something particular in mind, get in touch before booking and we can discuss whether it is suitable for the time available.
Duration: 8 hours
Price: £280 per person
Participants: Maximum two
One to One Metal Art Masterclass
If you have a particular piece you would like to make, or simply want the forge to yourself, I also offer one-to-one metal art workshops. We can spend one or two days working on your own creation, using items from my stock of materials, with the project planned around your idea.
I will work alongside you throughout, helping you develop your idea, choose the right materials and work out its construction, while teaching you the metalworking techniques you need along the way.
The exact project is up to you, although we need to make sure it is achievable within the time available. Get in touch with your idea before booking and we can decide what time you will need.
Duration: 1-3 days
Price: Please enquire
What Will I Make?
The project needs to be realistic for the time available, but you will make an actual piece of metal art. For a half-day workshop, that normally means a small-scale piece such as a sea creature made from cutlery.
In a full day workshop, if you have something else in mind that can realistically be made in the time available, we can explore that idea instead. You can rummage around my stores of reclaimed metal and experiment with shapes and combinations to create your own simple metal artwork.
People learn at different speeds, and some people take naturally to one technique more than another, so I stay flexible and adapt what you make to the techniques you want to explore. I will help with the parts that need experience while giving you as much involvement in the making as is practical. If you do have some metalworking skills, speak to me before booking so I can adapt what we do to your skill level.
Whichever direction we take, you will take home your own piece of metal art at the end of the workshop.
Dates & Practical Details
Workshops run during autumn, winter and early spring, when the forge is cooler. I can arrange one-to-one masterclasses year-round, depending on my studio and commission schedule. Workshops take place in my forge near Henfield, Sussex.
You do not need any previous metalworking experience. I will introduce you to the equipment and some of the processes I use in my own work, including forging, plasma cutting and welding.
Where are the workshops held?
The workshops take place at my forge near Henfield in Sussex.
What will I make?
You will create a small piece of sculptural metal art to keep and take home. People learn at different rates so the exact piece will depend on your idea, experience and what can realistically be completed within the session you have booked. If you have a particular idea in mind then please contact Alan to discuss before booking.
What is the minimum age?
The workshops are for adults of all abilities, aged 18 and over.
Do I need welding or metalworking experience?
No. The workshops are suitable for complete beginners, and I do not expect you to have any previous experience. I will explain the equipment before we use it and guide you through each stage of the work.
If you do have some metalworking skills, speak to me before booking so I can adapt what we do to your skill level.
People learn at different speeds, and some people take naturally to one technique more than another, so I stay flexible and adapt what you make to the techniques you want to explore.
Whichever direction we take, you will take home your own piece of metal art at the end of the workshop.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear old clothes in layers, as the forge can get warm. You’ll need sturdy, closed-toe shoes, preferably leather or another natural material. Please avoid nylon trainers or other synthetic footwear, as sparks can fly while we work. Teas and coffees are provided but bring your lunch and any snacks as there are no shops near the forge.
What techniques will I use?
Depending on the sculpture and the session, the workshop can include forging, plasma cutting and MIG, TIG and Stick/Arc welding, along with the practical processes involved in constructing and finishing the piece.
Is the forge accessible?
Please contact me before booking if you have any accessibility or physical requirements so that we can discuss the workshop and forge setup.
How much is a metal art workshop?
The half-day sculpture workshop costs £150 per person and lasts four hours. Full-day sculpture workshops are £280 per person for eight hours. Personalised one-to-one Masterclass prices depend on the time and project involved.
What happens if I need to cancel or rearrange?
Needs answer
Workshop Gift Vouchers
Workshop vouchers are available. If you would like to gift someone the experience of making their own metal art at the forge, contact Alan to discuss it or buy a gift voucher from the shop.
Working in the Forge
This is a working artist’s forge, not a classroom. It is where I make my own sculpture, so you will be working around the same kinds of tools, machinery and materials that form part of my everyday practice.
We will look at how ideas can develop from the materials themselves, and how we can create something unexpected from ordinary, functional pieces of scrap metal.
This is an important part of the experience. You can look around the workshop, see artworks in progress and talk about the creative process while we work. You will learn some basic metalworking techniques, but the emphasis of the workshops is on exploring the creative process behind making a piece of metal art.
Enquire About a Workshop
If you would like to spend some time in the forge and make a piece of metal sculpture of your own, get in touch to discuss dates and availability. If you already have an idea for a sculpture, tell me what you have in mind and I can advise which workshop format will be most suitable.
About Alan Williams
I am a British metal sculpture artist who works with reclaimed mechanical and industrial materials and metal objects originally designed for practical purposes.
I transform these into sculptures of living forms, particularly wildlife, sea life and mythological creatures. My pieces range from smaller individual artworks to large public and commissioned sculptures.
The workshops are an opportunity to come into the forge, work directly with the same kinds of materials and experience some of the processes used in my own sculpture.
