Coach House Forge at Drift Art Gallery: A Night of Artistic Elegance

Coach House Forge was thrilled to showcase numerous pieces from our Limited Edition Artisan Collection at the esteemed Drift Art Gallery in the beautiful town of Nantwich, Cheshire.

Since its opening in May this year, Drift Art Gallery has quickly gained popularity within the local community and beyond, becoming a beloved hub for art enthusiasts. Owned by Jez Phillips, a lifelong art lover, Drift showcases both emerging and established talents in contemporary art. As a fantastic addition to the town’s vibrant cultural scene, Drift offers a warm and inviting space that fosters creativity and connection.

Who’s Who

Coach House Forge was delighted to be part of the exhibition entitled, ‘Above and Below’ featuring a diverse range of artworks including paintings, photographs, ceramics, forge art, and sculptures.

With the champagne flowing, the exhibition was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the local art community and to share our craftsmanship.

We exhibited alongside 

Opening Night

The November 15th was a fantastic event, despite the chilly weather outside. Jez, who curated the exhibition, greeted guests with the warmest of welcomes as the gallery buzzed with energy and excitement. It was truly heartwarming to see so many people, united by a shared passion for art, coming together to celebrate and appreciate creativity.

Aurora

The night was especially memorable for us as we proudly unveiled our first piece of Coach House Forge painted steel Wall Art. Titled “Aurora,” the artwork was inspired by the recent breathtaking display of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) across Cheshire. Our blacksmith, Adrian, was moved to recreate this stunning natural phenomenon, and the piece aligned perfectly with the theme of the “Above and Below” exhibition.

Left to right, Adrian, Chris and Amy beside ‘Aurora’

The artwork ‘Aurora’ began its creation in our largest forge, capable of reaching extremely high temperatures. Through a meticulous process of repeatedly heating and cooling the steel, a distinctive “blistering” effect was achieved. This was then refined with a rigorous wire brushing technique, resulting in the textured, three-dimensional finish.

Adding color to a piece of art is a process that demands both skill and precision. Once the initial stages of creation are finished, the next step is to bring the artwork to life by applying ‘Verdigris’ gilding wax. When blended with other tones, this technique adds a vibrant, radiant glow to the piece.

The intricate  use of an angle grinder is then put to work to add a highlighted edge to the panel along with black wax added to create contrast. The piece is protected with a wax which creates a lovely patina. Finally it was set in a pewter coloured floating frame.

The process is a combination of technical precision and artistic vision which we are sure you will agree creates a stunning piece of art. 

The next two hours were spent chatting in depth to other artists and guests. It was quite the experience to be able to receive real-time feedback for our pieces, and we were overwhelmed by the compliments and positive comments we received.