“There’s something special about working steel in a forge. It connects you to the process of creation in a way that gives you more respect and curiosity for the materials used and the process itself, often following the way something moves under the hammer rather than staying fixed on a perceived outcome.”
David
Hello there!
Good, that you are here.
I am David Harland,
Artist, Blacksmith and Magician.
I live and work in Porthyrhyd, nestled within an old dairy farmhouse where the Welsh countryside breathes into my practice. Alongside my dog Loki, I have reclaimed an old barn as my forge: a sacred space for workshops, lessons, and the manifestation of custom commissions.
Currently I am completing my Master of Fine Art at UWTSD Swansea University (June 2026), a journey undertaken to crystallise my identity as an artist in my own right.
Though my roots began in a Christian landscape, I have walked back to the old ways; I am a Pagan, my spirit firmly tethered to the soil and the raw elements.
As a Blacksmith, I view the anvil as an altar where esoteric study meets the physical world. For me, art is magic given form, and with every strike of the hammer, the connection between my artistic practice and the deeper mysteries grows more profound.
a little bit more about my journey….
I was fairly feral as a child, roaming where I would—over hills, streams, along the coastline and cliffs—but always connected with the nature and spirit of the land.
My family would often spend a week in the summer at Whitby in Yorkshire (thanks to my Aunty Judy for renting the rooms), where I would wander and watch jewellers and glassmakers creating their tourist charms and items, as well as frequenting the local joke shop. At home I would make small copper pieces, hammered on the back of an axe head as an anvil, and dream of changing the outhouse into a mini workshop.
What started me off on my blacksmithing journey was reading a book by Michael Scott Rohan called The Anvil of Ice. Having failed to get into arts college in Cumbria due to my ADHD brain leaving the portfolio work until the last few days, I started to follow in the tradition of the Harland family (over 100 years of it) and started a year's engineering course in Carlisle Tech.
I got an apprenticeship at the tender age of 19 with an Italian blacksmith just outside of Oxford, where I lived in a caravan and started my training. I came away from blacksmithing for a while, learning about agriculture, singing, and top-end audio equipment before heading back to train in blacksmithing at the Hereford Centre for Rural Crafts. After my course I worked for and with several blacksmiths before setting up my own forge in Bowerchalke, Wiltshire.
My interest in nature and the spirit of the land made me very aware of the environment and living more sustainably, which led me to move to Wales after discovering its One Planet Development scheme, buy some land, and set up my current forge in Carmarthenshire. At this point I am allowing myself to really connect with the aspects I enjoy in blacksmithing and hope to inspire others to take their own paths with this beautiful craft.
“The techniques that I use give movement to the steel, making each piece unique. Every item no matter how small, I work with care and love.”
Here are some of my many Creations and Exhibitions
This was a commission for client showing at the RHS Hampton Court in London. They received a gold medal and won the “Best New Design” Award.
These two installations were exhibited at Occulture Conference Berlin in 2025 & 2023:
Everyday Objects that are hand made with a lot of care
These are just some of the creations I’ve made with my own hands in my forge.
If you fancy creating your own piece of blacksmithing, purchasing something, or placing a custom order, or invite me to your exhibition, feel free to reach out to me.