Delyth Done, Head of School at HCA, awarded MBE in recognition to her services to Artist Blacksmithing and Heritage Crafts

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    17th June 2023

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Photo of Delyth Done MBE

Delyth Done, Head of the School of Materials and Design at Hereford College of Arts, and Course Leader of the BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing and MA Contemporary Crafts, has been given an MBE in King Charles’ first Birthday Honours List.

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An MBE in recognition of her services to Artist Blacksmithing and Heritage Crafts.


Delyth Done has established a worldwide reputation for Hereford College of Arts’ Artist Blacksmithing degree course, the only course of its kind in the UK, and one of only three in the world. She is a leading scholar in the field of forged metal, a facilitator of international craft community, and an educator dedicated to innovative pedagogy.

Del is an exceptional educator and creative catalyst. She is rightly known as a force of nature throughout the college community and far beyond. Her energy, vision and ambition have led to international recognition for the Artist Blacksmithing programme she leads at Hereford College of Arts. She’s inspired audiences speaking around the world. She’s been the driving force behind the exceptional, pioneering bi-annual Ferrous festival of blacksmithing in Hereford as well landmark exhibitions such as Transition in Ypres in 2016 and more recently the international touring exhibition #150mmchallenge. We could not be more thrilled at this recognition of the positive impact she has had on forged metal creative practice and on the lives of countless students.

HCA Principal - Abigail Appleton

Glenn Adamson, the former head of research at the V&A and a world-renowned curator and writer on craft, design history and contemporary art said of Done:

“Craft, at its best, is almost always the work of many hands, and no one understands this better than Delyth Done. Through her teaching and ingenious curatorial work, she has shown that the ancient skill of blacksmithing can be a way of bringing people together in the 21st century. She is always forging connections and opening up new horizons for others, whether they’ve been working at the forge for years, or are just picking up a hammer for the very first time. We need more people like her in the world of craft – but we can at least be grateful for all she has done.”

“My experience at HCA has been massively shaped by the constant support and guidance of Del,” says Jessica Agar, a student at HCA. “Her passion for pedagogy and forged metalwork has been an on going inspiration to me in my studies. From our very first conversation it was clear to me she is a passionate educator with a commitment to every student.”

“Del’s hard work, dedication and commitment to her students are extraordinary and inspiring,” says student Rowan Lickerish, “The support and kindness she has shown me over the last three years have been at the core of a truly life changing experience.”

Encapsulating her importance to the global metal arts community, Professor Heiner Zimmermann of the University of Gothenburg says:

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the professional ethics and expertise that Delyth Done brings to the professional field of blacksmithing. Delyth’s actions speak for themselves, and she inspires everyone around her in an exceptional way. She is a true asset to the blacksmith world.”

See the full list of birthday honours here

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