Ruben Irons is an artist blacksmith based in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, whose metalwork blends a rich tradition of functional craft with sculptural expression. Inspired as a child by watching his father work at the forge at night—his father ran the Atlantic Ferrier School—Ruben has been honing his skills for over 30 years.

He trained at a horseshoeing school in California and apprenticed with master smiths in New Hampshire and British Columbia. Before establishing his own practice, Ruben served as the site blacksmith at the Ship Hector in Pictou, where he forged hardware for the replica tall ship and demonstrated traditional blacksmithing techniques to the public.

Ruben lives and creates in the deep woods of Pictou County with his partner, Raina McDonald, and their two daughters. Together they grow food, cut firewood, and pursue a life closely tied to land, craft, and community. He teaches at a local forest school, rides a recumbent bicycle, and holds a deep optimism that the next generation will inspire us with their creativity, compassion, and love for this wondrous planet.

Ruben’s work is grounded in durability, function, and the visible marks of the hand forged process. Each piece is made to be used, lived with, and passed on. Check out his portfolio of past custom work below, shop our line here and reach out to explore what's possible.