 |
 |
international award-winning designs |
 |
Jake James is an award-winning British born and educated artist and journeyman blacksmith with over a decade of success creating functional and fanciful works in metal.
Operating from his Vancouver Island forge on British Columbia’s wild and inspirational west coast, Jake James produces:
- Architectural design works for custom homes and commercial/community spaces, from dramatic staircases to patio/deck railings and hardware.
- Interior design works for residential and commercial spaces, from furniture to fireplace accessories.
- Exterior design works for residential and commercial/community spaces, from one-of-a-kind garden gates to bird baths with panache.
- Commission works for residential and commercial clients, helping people transform their creative vision into a workable design in metal.
- Public art that engages and entertains people while creating a lasting community cultural legacy.
Jake James also offers blacksmithing classes for novices looking for a true hot metal experience, as well as intermediate students of the craft aiming to expand their knowledge and skill level.
Jake’s artisan work in metal has been featured at various galleries and fine art exhibitions, and has been widely recognized with a variety of awards and features in magazines and newspapers. Most recently, his work can be found in a stunning coffee table book, Perspectives on Design Western Canada. Jake James’ work also factored prominently in the multi BC Care Award and Georgie Building Award-winning project ‘The Stone House’ and B Cubed Construction Ltd.
Jake James also performs demonstrations for the following organizations:
- California Blacksmiths Association
- CANIRON VI (National Biennial Blacksmiths Conference)
- Western Canadian Blacksmiths Guild
- Northwest Blacksmiths Association
- Vancouver Island Blacksmiths Association
Call or email us to receive Jake’s detailed biography.
A Journeyman’s Travels
Having developed his skills under the tutelage of master blacksmith Richard Bent and after having received his Journeyman’s Certificate from the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in England, Jake James followed in the rich tradition of the profession and set off on a journey of his own. Jake left England to explore and cultivate his personal understanding of the art and craft of blacksmithing and its place in the world.
Jake’s travels took him first to Sri Lanka, where he worked with a village smith and forged everything from ox plough shares to axes and sickles for the rice harvest. It was a life lesson in simplicity, innovation and resourcefulness. Everything was recycled and created with the bare minimum of equipment.
In India, Jake spent a month working in silver, both jewelry and inlaying, before taking his journey to North America. There he toured the west coast of the United States and Canada, visiting a number of highly regarded blacksmiths and demonstrating his skill with the California Blacksmiths Association. Then, like thousands of smiths have done over the centuries, he eventually met met his soul mate, married and established his family home and business on beautiful Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada.
| portfolio | commissions | classes | about JAKEJAMES artist blacksmith © 2009 - |
 SUBSCRIBE to ALCHEMY |
 Follow Jake James on Facebook |
contact | links | media | jake james home Vancouver Island, British Columbia CANADA |