Gunvor Anhoj, Artist Blacksmith

Originally from Denmark, Gunvor runs a forge in Ireland with her Irish husband. From an early age, she had an urge to create, from carving simple wooden objects as a child, to constructing shelters to stay in overnight as a teenager. Working as a trained blacksmith allows her to still indulge these early passions, albeit in a slightly more grown-up manner. Through her work Gunvor gets to engage in primitive activities like lighting fires andhammering. She focuses largely on artistic metal sculpting, as the more utilitarian side of blacksmithing has been taken over by computer-aided design and 3D printing. In 2016, Gunvor was commissioned to create trophies which were presented to some of the people behind the Northern Irish Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement. Hugely proud of this achievement on a personal level, she also feels a sense of pride in the craft - to bring it to such a prestigious event - and in the level of finesse, to make an ancient skill contemporary.

My younger self didn't take advice and wasn't afraid of much. But perhaps a note from my younger self to my older would be helpful: Stop worrying and keep going!

Photo: Beta Bajgart