Traditional blacksmithing is an art form, key part of our business heritage, and something we didn’t want to see get lost in the modern world. So we blended this time-honoured skill with state-of-the-art design and production technology to give our clients a service – and product – that’s truly unique.
Starting out as a father and son team, engineers Paul and Brent Steed created Arthur Francis using a play on their respective middle names. They brought together Paul’s heritage craft and commercial fabrication experience with Brent’s contemporary engineering know-how.
Their first range of garden sculptures became hugely sought after, so Paul and Brent welcomed more family members into the business to help create everything from commercial signage to one-of-a-kind sculptures.
And now, having noticed a demand for high-end, premium-quality custom pieces, we made the natural move into working with landscapers, architects and home-owners on large-scale, bespoke projects.
We’re incredibly proud to remain a family-run business, based in the heart of rural Leicestershire. This location provides us with endless inspiration from the natural world, as well as being the perfect spot to collaborate with creatives across the UK.
Our sculptures and garden features have been seen everywhere from The Chelsea Flower Show to Dream Gardens magazine, and ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.
When it comes to gardening names it doesn’t get much bigger than Alan Titchmarsh, so when we received the call for our products to appear on Love Your Weekend you can imagine just how excited the whole team was.
As one of the UK’s leading specialists in Corten, we were delighted to see such wide use of Corten steel structures within the gardens, and the cherry on top? Three of them receiving awards.
Not only do we have a unique range of handcrafted products available to order but we also offer a bespoke design service. We have years of experience working with landscapers and architects to create custom pieces to work as part of a wider aesthetic.
Director
With over 50 years of engineering experience, Paul has crafted a multitude of spectacular pieces, from narrow boats to industrial machinery, using traditional methods. Visualising and creating unique garden sculptures has always been a particular passion of Paul’s though, as he enjoys helping people to make their garden a haven.
When Paul isn’t busy in the garden, he spends time oil painting and escaping to the countryside on his motorbike.
Director
Learning valuable, inside knowledge from his father’s traditional experience, Brent has been an engineer for the past 15 years and brings a contemporary aspect to the business. He enjoys every stage of the sculpture process, from the initial CAD designs to the production stage, where he ensures every bespoke item meets Arthur Francis’s high standards.
Outside of work, Brent enjoys fixing retro items, like his Ferguson tractor, plus the odd round of golf.
Office Executive
Amy keeps the family business organised, staying up to date with all the admin and ensuring all deadlines are met. She is also responsible for product checking before arranging deliveries.
In Amy’s spare time, she enjoys being outside and gardening. She likes to travel when she can too.
Production Operative
Paul maintains the running order of production from when a design has been approved or a new order has been placed. He uses the Plasma cutting machine and ensures all measurements are correct before cutting commences.
Paul is a great guitarist and enjoys relaxing with his family outside of work
With over 23 years of welding experience, Chris is one of the skilled hands behind many of our bespoke creations. His precision, attention to detail, and passion for quality mean every project he works on is finished to the highest standard.
When he’s not crafting custom pieces in the workshop, Chris can be found enjoying the adrenaline of motorbike racing or travelling to new tropical destinations in search of adventure and inspiration.
Delivery Driver
Kev has worked in a customer-facing role in the packaging industry for over 40 years and excels at problem solving, especially when it comes to deliveries. Now our delivery driver, Kev safely takes our bespoke designs from our workshop to their new home in your garden.
When he’s not driving for work, Kev enjoys taking care of his classic car and motorbike collection.
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