Neil Hunt

Born and raised in Northern Minnesota, Neil Hunt has been immersed in art since childhood, shaped early on by his father’s teachings in traditional craftsmanship and woodworking. Those formative years—spent working and traveling across the Dakota prairies—instilled a lifelong appreciation for handwork, discipline, and the philosophical approach to making. After marrying his wife in Norway, he moved to Sedona, Arizona, where he began crafting belts professionally and supplying major retailers. His pursuit of excellence soon led him to design and forge his own buckles, drawing inspiration from historic metalwork, Eastern simplicity, and American Western art.

His engraving journey took root under the mentorship of his wife’s uncle, Norwegian master craftsman Ragnvald Frøysadal, and later Austrian master engraver Franz Marktl. Additional study with the Creative Arts Team of Italy and renowned engraver Winston Churchill further refined his style. Today, he creates intricately engraved buckles that merge classic decorative arts traditions with a distinctly personal vision, guided by the belief that beauty, craftsmanship, and devotion unify cultures and endure through time.