Sparks are flying at a Suffolk farm with one entrepreneurial farmer blazing a trail through the world of high-end garden products.
Andy Gage has transformed his idea of building artistic firepits into a profitable reality in a matter of months, with the steel sculptures he crafts at his workshop in Helions Bumpstead being snapped-up for thousands of pounds a time.
The 34-year-old’s work was even shortlisted in the product of the year category at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show - where he took £50,000 of orders and featured on the front page of The Telegraph’s show review.
The plucky farmer had never even picked up a plasma cutter until he decided to let his creative side loose back in November, and he has not looked back since.
“I’ve always had crazy ideas. I’ll have an idea, and I’ll do it,” said Mr Gage.
“I saw some firepits on the internet one night and I thought ‘I could do that better’.
“I wanted to make something that was beautiful when it was lit and when it wasn’t lit. People use them a lot to start with, but I didn’t want them to regret buying them when the novelty wears off.”
All Mr Gage’s designs are made to order, with each pit taking a day for him and his two new members of staff to make - three hours to draw, eight hours to cut, and around four hours of polishing and other finishing touches.
It is the latest bright idea from Mr Gage, who has been at the helm of his 160-acre farm since he was 19, having taken it over from his grandad Herbert Ramsey.
To view more of Mr Gage’s work visit www.thefirepitcompany.co.uk
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