Hidden from the public for more than a decade, The Forge in Worthing has reopened as an independent gallery and artists’ studios.

Artist Siobhan Jones “fell in love”with the building, which dates from 1802, and with Worthing when she and her partner relocated from the Midlands.

“Worthing is a gem of a place, totally on the way up and populated with fabulous people,” she says. “When we walked into The Forge, we knew this was it.”

The couple, who have three children, got the keys to the Worthing High Street building on August 3. In just a few months, they have renovated the building and turned it into a two-storey gallery space with three exhibition rooms, an open-plan workshop where Jones will work on her fused glass commissions, and three additional artists’ studios at the back.

The building had been operating as a traditional forge up until 2003; the original forge was cut away only a few weeks ago. Now Jones hopes to make it an artistic hub for the town.

In addition to exhibiting contemporary, original jewellery, glass, painting and sculpture, artists will run workshops to introduce the public to new skills and will be supported in growing their own businesses.

Jones – who has designed and created glass art for libraries, health clubs, offices and private clients – spent 16 years running glass workshops in Herefordshire and Hampshire and will run glass demonstrations and introductions to her craft at The Forge.

“You can only really understand fused glass once you’ve worked with it,” she says. “It’s not something you can try at home with no prior experience but it’s hugely rewarding. Often people realise they’re creative when they didn’t think they were.”

While running a gallery is a first for the couple, Jones has decades of experience working in galleries and artists’ cooperatives up and down the country, where she met many of the artists and makers whose work she will exhibit. “I’ve worked on the circuit exhibiting everywhere from pig sheds to manor houses. You meet so many great people and it really teaches you a lot about the business of selling work.”

Her partner meanwhile is an experienced businessman. “He’s the brains and I’m the one with the contacts,” she laughs.

Jones has invited submissions to exhibit and sell work at The Forge and is then able to cherry-pick those whose work she is most impressed by.

Those currently on show include Tara Coomber, a traditional silversmith whose simple, sensuous jewellery has been shown at the V&A; Karina Gill, who makes etched metal bowls in organic and geometric forms; and ceramicist Elain Peto, whose earthy clay studies of animals Jones has admired for more than 15 years.

Loco Glass is a partnership between Goldsmiths graduate Louise Hawkins and her husband Colin, who studied at the Royal College of Art; both are passionate about promoting and preserving the tradition of glassmaking.

Kathryn Matthews is a painter and owner of her own gallery, Two Kats And A Cow in Brighton, who has exhibited in Paris and New York, while Frans Wesselman creates narrative etchings inspired by poems and myths.

“I saw more of these people on the circuit than I did my own family and really admire what they do. It’s wonderful to be able to bring their work to new audiences through the gallery.”

The first workshops take place at The Forge on Tuesday (October 22) and a Christmas arts and crafts show is planned for December.

“We really hope The Forge will become an integral part of Worthing,” says Jones.

“We don’t want it to just be a gallery, or a shop, we want it to be an experience.”

*The Forge, 81, High Street, Worthing. Visit www.theforgeworthing.co.uk for more information