Neil Ayling, the sole maker behind Willow Forge in North Cambridgeshire, UK.

I studied BA Fine Art Sculpture at Winchester School of Art followed by my Masters in Fine Art Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London.

A lot of my making experience was gained through being one of a few studio assistants to Sir Anthony Caro at his Camden Town studio for 7 years until his death and 4 years after, restoring work for collections and museum exhibitions.

I also maintained my own art practice and was a represented gallery artist, exhibiting nationally and internationally.

Covid brought a huge amount of uncertainty. The Art World and its infrastructure disappeared over night. Knife making was the antidote for me. I was ready for a new challenge and to satisfy my desire to craft and use skill in my working. I worked every moment I could day and night to adjust my years of fabrication in sculpture and restoration to making the best knives I possibly could. I needed the objectivity of function, of being honed, refined and serve its purpose. But I do trust my eyes; proportion, form, shape, material combinations. This matters very much to me.

The objectivity of function with the subjectivity of beauty.