Master distiller / blender
Richard Forsyth
- Discipline
- Master distiller / blender
i. Biography
Richard Forsyth is chairman of Forsyths in Rothes, Scotland, and a third-generation coppersmith at the same firm. The work carries both lineage and workshop discipline: one part leadership, one part making, with the family name carried through the trade rather than separated from it.
The Path
Early roles in mining and oil kept Richard Forsyth close to industrial process and the physical demands that come with it. Work as a laborer and truck driver in Western Australia, then as a geoscience worker at oil in Reading, England, placed him in settings where stamina, adaptability, and direct contact with machinery mattered more than presentation. He later worked in open-cut mining in Queensland, Australia, and as an operator of alluvial gold mining plant in Victoria, Australia. Taken together, those posts formed a working base built on hard environments, repetitive process, and practical judgment. That background sits behind his position as a third-generation coppersmith at Forsyths. The return to the family firm links industrial labor to a craft inherited through the same company, with continuity expressed through hands-on metalwork rather than ceremony.
The Work Today
He now chairs the company in Rothes and continues as a third-generation coppersmith. The role joins administration to making, so the authority of the chair sits beside the authority of the workshop. In Richard Forsyth’s case, the present work is defined by stewardship of the firm and direct participation in the trade that has passed through three generations.
Career - third-generation coppersmith — Forsyths, Rothes, Scotland - laborer and truck driver — mining industry, Western Australia - geoscience worker — oil, Reading, England - worker in open-cut mining — Queensland, Australia - operator of alluvial gold mining plant — Victoria, Australia
Acclaim
Recognition here comes through continuity of trade and the responsibilities that come with it. Richard Forsyth’s standing at Forsyths rests on the combination of chairmanship and active coppersmithing, with the family firm and the craft remaining inseparable in his work. The value lies in the fact of carrying the line forward inside the shop, not outside it.
FAQ What is Richard Forsyth's current role? As of 2026, Richard Forsyth is Chairman of Forsyths. Where did Richard Forsyth work before? Richard Forsyth's earlier career included mining industry and oil.
