Ellie Barden is a blacksmith and artist who weaves traditional metalworking skills with contemporary artistry, to create bespoke and functional works of art.
Born in Cumbria, Ellie trained with designer-metalworker Chris Brammall and sculptor Andrew Kay, before founding Grace Forge in 2018 at Brougham Hall, near Penrith. Her studio crafts custom staircases, balcony rails, gates, furniture, and public art, defined by precision, creativity, and enduring quality.
Rooted in the wild beauty of Cumbria and the Lake District, Ellie’s creativity is shaped by the land itself. The rugged contours and refined grace of the landscape echo through her forged forms, each piece a celebration of nature’s strength, balance, and effortless elegance.
Ellie loves working with clients to realise the bespoke ideas they bring and works with clients from across the UK.
Ellie believes “Metalwork becomes an heirloom, designed for the client and enjoyed by generations after”.
