Hereford College of Arts blacksmithing tutor receives MBE

Delyth Done, who is the Head of the School of Materials and Design at HCA, as well as course leader of the BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing and MA Contemporary Crafts, was given the honour in King Charle's first birthday honours list.

She has established a worldwide reputation for the blacksmithing degree course, the only one of its kind in the UK, and one of only three in the world.

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Abaigail Appleton, HCA principal, said: “Del is an exceptional educator and creative catalyst. She is rightly known as a force of nature throughout the college community and far beyond.

"Her energy, vision and ambition have led to international recognition for the artist blacksmithing programme she leads at Hereford College of Arts.

"She’s been the driving force behind the exceptional, pioneering bi-annual Ferrous festival of blacksmithing in Hereford as well landmark exhibitions such as Transition in Ypres in 2016 and more recently the international touring exhibition #150mmchallenge.

"We could not be more thrilled at this recognition of the positive impact she has had on forged metal creative practice and on the lives of countless students.”

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Glenn Adamson, the former head of research at the V&A and a world-renowned curator and writer on craft, design history and contemporary art, added: "Craft, at its best, is almost always the work of many hands, and no one understands this better than Delyth Done.

"Through her teaching and ingenious curatorial work, she has shown that the ancient skill of blacksmithing can be a way of bringing people together in the 21st century.

"She is always forging connections and opening up new horizons for others, whether they’ve been working at the forge for years, or are just picking up a hammer for the very first time.

"We need more people like her in the world of craft - but we can at least be grateful for all she has done.”

Meanwhile, Jessica Agar, a student at HCA, said. “Her passion for pedagogy and forged metalwork has been an on going inspiration to me in my studies. From our very first conversation it was clear to me she is a passionate educator with a commitment to every student.”

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