Profile

Charles Normandale

Charles opened Wheely Down Forge in 1983 winning two major sculptural commissions in his first year.

Now a leading Artist Blacksmith Charles works solely to commission for a wide range of public, private and ecclesiastical clients.

A driving force is for all his sculptural works to truly relate to their sites and stimulate recognition and empathy in those that view them.

He believes that in depth research is key and resulting works are both contemporary and relevant.

Each response is approached with the eye and mind of a sculptor, the ingenuity of a product designer, the understanding and knowledge of an engineer and the skills of a master craftsman.

A personal translation of the philosophy ‘truth to materials’ an awareness of the aesthetic potential of metals, metal surfaces and of traditional blacksmith making techniques are demonstrated in all his pieces.

His clearly defined ideology concerning identity, form and surface quality plus a strongly held belief in the value of his being involved in every stage from concept to installation, has resulted in an extensive range of sculptural works and awards. His enthusiasm for architectural scale has resulted in his continuing to win commissions for large scale public art works while being shortlisted for several others.

With the introduction of professional artist and designer Julie Brooks-Hill,
and the studio team, Charles continues to develop and push the boundaries creatively.