Ai Iijima studied basic metalworking, especially in jewellery making in Japan.
After graduating from Japanese school, she was keen to gain a European art & craft education (mainly metalworking). In the UK, she studied 3D Materials Practice at Camberwell College of Arts London and the University of Brighton, majoring in metalworking and wood work.
Since then, she has been a blacksmith apprentice at Glynde Forge near Lewes.
She returned to Japan after took apprentiship for 3 and half years and opend her own Blacksmith workshop called 'Metalsmith iiji'.
Also she is a member of Chiba Traditional Blackamith Association since 2019.
2019- : Chiba Traditional Blacksmiths Association, japan2018- : Tatara Festival Blacksmithing Demonstration, Yachiyo, Japan2017- : Opening Forge at Yachiyo-shi, Chiba Japan2011 - 2017: NAAR (Tax Free shop at Narita International Airport), Japan2008 - 2011: Blacksmith Apprentice at Glynde Forge, near Lewes UK2007 - 2009: 3D Materials Practice (Wood, Metal, Ceramic & Plastic) at University of Brighton, Brighton UK2006 - 2007: 3D Material and Critical Practice at Camberwell College of Arts, London UK2005 - 2006: Foundation Course (Fine Art Sculpture) at Camberwell College of Arts, London UK2001 - 2004: Fine Art Course (Wood, Metal, Ceramic, Plastic and general Art & Design) at Tokyo Gakkan Technical High School, Chiba Japan