Tim Fortune - Professional Career 
Tim Fortune is a designer and craftsman who started his working career as an apprentice blacksmith specialising in traditionally forged ironwork. During this time he found himself breaking away from the usual influences of 17th century baroque derived scroll work and experimenting with his own futuristic ideas. He was awarded the most accomplished student in his field.
Following his apprenticeship he attended Salisbury College of Art and then Manchester Polytechnic where he gained a first class honours degree in 3D design. His main subject during his time in Manchester was metal which included silversmithing and jewellery with ceramics as his second subject.
At the age of twenty-three he set up workshop taking commissions for traditional ironwork and restoration work but primarily developing his own contemporary ideas. The aim was always to push the boundaries of design and method and he quickly gained a reputation as a sculpture using mild and stainless steel as his medium. The combination of a traditional training and creative mind led to a journey designing and creating original and distinctive works of art often with a function. Tim's design philosophy has always been that form and function should work together but either of them need not necessarily dictate what happens to the other.
Tim has exhibited widely including Summer exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts, the Barbican Centre and Art Parks International in Guernsey. He has carried out commissions working along side architects and public authorities such as The Natural history museum and Eton College as well as individuals such as Dame Elizabeth Frink.
During the 1990s Tim bought a blast cleaning business and ran it along side his design/metalwork studio. This new business specialised in hot metal spraying, a process of spraying molten metals on to other metals. This along with his increased use of stainless steel gave him the potential to broaden the scope of his sculptural work.
The turn of the century saw another change of direction for Tim with the development of a range of four mirrors to be made in wood. These followed his reputed style of organic flowing lines and the addition of wood as a medium increased the scope and capabilities of his work.
In 2007 a complete change of personal circumstances came about with a move to the South of France. The attraction and challenge was a pair of derelict barns. During the time he spent converting the first to his own home and the second to a a gite he continously increased his skill base and knowledge. Work on the house is complete but work on the gite is ongoing.
Tim' continuous hunger to develop new ideas in a creative way has left him with a broad knowledge of design, materials and how to transform thoughts in to reality.
Tim continues to take commissions for his sculptural work from individuals, public authorities, architects and the like. He is now also in demand for his skills and knowledge of old French buildings.
Tim believes that new direction brings new challenges and challenges are what satisfies his creative mind.
If you would like Tim's input into any project you may have in mind, however large or small, he would be pleased to hear from you.
