Professor Matthew Garton graduated from Hereford College of Arts, in Hereford, England with a B.A. Honors in Artist Blacksmithing in 2012.
Matt became the chair of the American college of the building arts blacksmithing department since fall of 2021 he played pivotal role in the regeneration of the American College of The Building Blacksmithing Program and continues to be a very active member of the team in all aspects of the colleges work
Matt’s natural talent and dedication for blacksmithing allowed him the opportunity to apprentice in one of the oldest functioning blacksmith shops in England where he further refined his skillset and techniques.
His love for forging metal and desire to study with Master Smiths has taken Matt all over the world. He specialized in traditional blacksmithing and has a vast knowledge of forged iron and the restoration of historic metalwork.
Matt has worked with a world market leader in iron restoration in England and still applies the same standards he learned there to the work he does here in America. He has worked for eminent blacksmiths in Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and coast to coast throughout the United States.
Matt has been awarded international acclaim with 1st Place in Team Event and 2nd Place in Individual Event, in the 2017 World Forging Championship in Stia, Italy.
About Professor Garton
Blacksmithing is alive and well in 21st century Charleston
Matthew Garton, a transplanted Englishman who first met Robert Thomas at the National School of Blacksmithing in Hereford, England, works with him now and says about 75 percent of their work is new and typically contemporary, and 25 percent is repairing or replacing traditional, historic ironwork.
Meet Matt Garton
Matt always had a way of kicking me up the ass whenever I was in a state of stagnation. As he says in the film, “If you wanna do it, you will do it. You just have to get on, and make it happen.” He is testament to the fact that a bit of hard work and perseverance will get you moving in the right direction, no matter how strange the destination or how obscure your jumping off point.
Hereford College students win 2017 World Forging Championships
Graduates from the Artist Blacksmithing course at Hereford College of Arts have recently won at the 2017 World Forging Championships, held during the second edition of the ‘Biennial of the Blacksmith’ in Stia, Italy. This is another trophy to add to the collection that the students and graduates, known as the Hereford Anvils, continue to gather as they gain artistic recognition on local and international levels.
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Scroll Making 101
One of the best parts about bringing groups together in working sessions like the #nefpro event are the unplanned learning opportunities. Here’s a snip of Scroll Making 101 with Professor Matthew Garton
Fire Basket
Matt Garton on the Beche forging 1/2" round tenons on the end of 1" square bars. He's making a very impressive fire basket as a personal project.