Forging Bright Futures

From an international swimmer to a blacksmith with a mission, we meet Jack Sampson in his Shropshire forge to talk about his career journey and drive to inspire young people.

Words by Molly Haynes

It’s a scorching hot day and blacksmith Jack Sampson is hard at work in his forge. Hidden away on a farm in the Shropshire countryside, the shadows from his chimney create dappled shade across the concrete track outside. “I’ve wanted to be a blacksmith since I watched Pirates of the Caribbean as a kid, where a blacksmith is making a sword,” he says, as he takes a break from making an order. “My parents were supportive and at 14, they helped me find a blacksmith who’d take me on. Throughout my late teens that was my weekend job.” His parents support meant he also had a little forge in their garage in Derbyshire. “It was a great place to practice my skills,” he explains. “I made small items there that I sold and basically took over their garage.

Jack Sampson wearing the Men's Kodiak Gilet in Deep Forest.

‘I want to teach young people that it’s OK if you don’t want an office job. There are trades they can learn such as blacksmithing instead’

Thankfully, they didn’t want to put the car in there.” As a teenager, Jack juggled blacksmithing with school and swimming internationally. “I don’t tend to talk about my swimming much because I don’t do it anymore. But I swam internationally as an open water marathon swimmer. I was fortunate to compete worldwide.”

However, Jack’s journey to blacksmithing wasn’t one of learning on the job because of his swimming commitments. “When I finished school and swimming, I did a degree in Artist Blacksmithing at the Hereford College of Arts. It’s the only place in the UK to off er that degree and one of three in the world. It was ideal because I wanted to further my knowledge on the history of blacksmithing, as well as honing my skills.”

It was this in-depth knowledge that made him an ideal fit for The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust’s resident blacksmith. “I did that role until COVID hit, when I decided to set up my own business,” says Jack. “And five years later, I feel like I’m slowly getting somewhere.”

While Jack loves the challenge of making bespoke metalwork projects, corporate commissions and more recently, intricately decorated knives, he really loves teaching other people the art of blacksmithing.

“I run experience days for people to come and have a go,” he says. “It’s an ideal birthday or Christmas present. But my real passion is teaching young adults. I want to teach them that it’s OK if you don’t want an office job. There are trades they can learn such as blacksmithing instead.”

And it’s Jack’s sponsorship from the ‘award-winning burger, beer and cocktail joint’, The Beefy Boys, that makes it possible. “I’d worked as a mixologist during my degree and had made some cocktails for The Beefy Boys. I knew they funded community-based projects and so in 2023, I emailed one of the owners, Anthony Murphy, and asked whether he’d help fund my dream to teach blacksmithing to young people, with an emphasis on those with learning and behavioural needs. He said yes.”

With enough money in the bank to fund a custom- made mobile forge, Jack was open to opportunities, and one soon presented at Ellesmere College in Shropshire where he worked with students on a sculpture project.

“I got the work because one of the heads of science lived opposite the farm. We got talking and I said I loved working with young adults, so she invited me to do a project at the college.

“It was originally just going to be something to introduce them to the craft. But then several students asked if they could make a flower in memory of one of their friends from the school who had died.

“We stamped the initials of every teacher and pupil who worked on the flower and put the student’s name on it, too. We also made some other flowers to go around it. It was a beautiful forever tribute.”

With his forge travelling with him in a box trailer, Jack started work with the Heritage Craft Association at its heritage makers events at Derby Museum. This evolved into the Craft and Making Saturday Club, which is open to 13- to 16-year-olds and has a focus on engaging young people from underrepresented communities. “Over the space of two weekends, we made flowers. But I was also involved in their final major project which is exhibited at the National Saturday Club Summer Show 2025 at Somerset House. I hope young people visiting that show feel inspired to try a lesser known career.”

Jack has one more big focus in his life and that’s impending fatherhood. “I’m due to be a dad in autumn 2025 and can’t wait. Blacksmithing may have to take a back seat, while my wife Hayley and I focus on our new arrival. With that in mind, he reflects on his hopes for the next few years.

“First and foremost, I want to be a great dad like my own dad. Both my parents supported my dreams in blacksmithing and swimming, and helped make them happen. And then, I want to make sure that young people who have similar dreams, but perhaps not the same support, have my support if they want to be a blacksmith and learn the trade.”

Jack Sampson shows Ridgeline the tools of his trade used for millennia: the forge, the anvil, hammers and tongs. He hopes to teach an entirely new generation the age-old art form and off er new career opportunities outside the cities.