DOZENS of blacksmiths converged on Eastnor Forge to take part in a joint art project.

They aimed to create a "wall of texture" sculpture, to be presented to the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.

It was designed by Andrew Findlay, of Eastnor Forge, who hosted the weekend "Forge In" with his wife, Hazel, prompted by the British Artist Blacksmith Association's recent eye safety campaign.

"Eye safety is a huge concern among artist blacksmiths and many suffer eye problems in later life," he said.

"I was going to hold a textural workshop and then I saw a BABA article with horrendous pictures of damage to people's eyes and I had the idea of the Forge In.

"Hot forged ironwork has tactile qualities as well as visual impact and that made me think of making something for the college."

Four extra forges and anvils were set up outside his workshop for the weekend and up to 100 blacksmiths worked in relays, using their imagination and skill to give texture to individual steel plates, which will be mounted in a steel framework to create the tactile wall.