Artist Blacksmith Katie Lake has been skilfully making her stylish and contemporary hearthside accessories and metalwork for over 12 years from her Devon forge. Her beautiful work looks stunning in modern or traditional homes as the designs will compliment all styles of fireplace, interior décor exterior space. Each piece is hand forged, fabricated and finished with great care giving an extremely individual but functional product.
Designer maker Katie Lake moved to the South West in 1992 to join the Design Metals course at Plymouth College of Art. On graduation, she was employed by the college and latterly self employed working on designs for a number of Devon community art and regeneration developments.
In 2004 Katie launched her own company, Mistress Metal, producing distinctive contemporary metalwork designs for interior and exterior environments.
In both 2011 and 2012 she was voted a finalist in the Craft&Design Selected Awards, being awarded Silver in 2012.
Much of Katie`s work takes inspiration from nature and its organic forms; Katie`s garden collection includes curvaceous plant supports and her vibrant flowerpots; bird feeders/lantern holders, romantic arbours; seating, metal and glass flower ornaments; braziers; her humorous lawn cows; one-off sculptures and many contemporary gate, railing and architectural designs.
Katie`s extensive fireside range, mirrors, candlesticks, bowls, and bespoke beds are hand forged to produce beautiful and robust pieces.
She exhibits regionally and nationally throughout the year at galleries, craft centres, sculpture events, craft fairs and recently at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Craft in Focus events in The South East and `Make` at Devon Guild of Craftsmen. She was also interviewed and featured on ITV`s `House Gift` programme in 2011.
Her passion for design, metalwork and its creation is illustrated by her involvement with schools and non-educational teaching work. She often has students in her forge, is in the classroom designing commissions with school pupils and most recently taught a blind and partially deaf student welding and forging where they created a sensory sculpture for his college.
Katie welcomes private and public commissions and recently was commissioned to design and make the entrance feature for solicitors` Foot Anstey`s impressive new waterside offices in Plymouth where she worked closely with 3 local schools. She has an extensive list of clients including TV presenter Nikki Chapman and Sony BMG.
Sculptures by katie lake
Credentials
Qualifications
Plymouth College of Art and Design - HND Metal Crafts (1992 - 1994)
Plymouth College of Art and Design - ND Hot Glass (1994 - 1995)
Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design - BTEC Foundation Studies (1991 - 1992),Plymouth College of Art and Design - HND Metal Crafts (1992 - 1994)
Plymouth College of Art and Design - ND Hot Glass (1994 - 1995)
Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design - BTEC Foundation Studies (1991 - 1992)Exhibitions
yes
Awards
Silver award winner in 2012 and finalist in the 2011 - Craft&Design Selected Awards in the Wood and Metal category
Katie also specialises in designing and making one-off beds, furniture and architectural metalwork to client specifications and can be commissioned to make these and any other metal based pieces to order.
