Always interested in metal working, Alex completed a 4 year apprenticeship of Industrial Blacksmithing with Wrought Art Works and Granger Forge in 1998 and then headed to the USA as a journeyman, working with acclaimed artist Blacksmith Tony Swatton on numerous museum, film and TV projects mainly making arms, armour and historical reproductions. Alex was later asked back to work on swords for Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3.
At the end of 1999 Alex opened Talerwin Forge, a custom art metal working business based in Rylstone NSW. This afforded the opportunity to pursue art and functional art in his own workshop. The materials worked with ranged from forged iron, leather, wood, cast ferrous and non-ferrous metals to precious metals.
Sculptures and historical reproductions are on display at the Hyde Park Barracks, The National museum, Goat Island, Elisabeth farm and many private collections. Lithgow TAFE has Alex’s first public sculpture and Mudgee council installed “Cube stack” in Lawson Park in 2014. Recent works include an ANZAC memorial of huge poppy flowers at Camden, Native bees at James Park Hornsby and a commission for the Hilton hotel Sydney. Sculptures and painting appear in a number of private collections around the world.
Alex has participated in a number of group and solo exhibitions,
Alex finished a second 4 year apprenticeship in Fitting (Mechanical Trade) in 2015 and is studying a Diploma of OH&S and Bachelor of Engineering science with UWS to deepen his understanding of metal working.
