Ross Hathaway is a designer who has come to art through industry. Born in the UK, he served his apprenticeship as a plater/welder, before qualifying as a mechanical design engineer. With a hands-on engagement with manufacturing he acquired an expertise in metalwork, skills in problem-solving, and experience of bringing designs from conception through to production. Along the way, he set up an educational engineering workshop in Nigeria and designed a patented piece of machinery for paper cutting.

In 2002 Ross moved to Ireland and established Metal Mayhem in Kilcormac, County Offaly, He makes jewellery and one-off sculptures in metal. His sculpture Turf, Wind and Fire (2012) is located in Lough Boora Parklands and he is one of the three participants behind a public sculpture (2014) erected in Kilcormac, which combines ancient bog oak and contemporary metalwork. His jewellery won the award for best suite of products on the New Product Development Course (2013) organised by Eddie Shanahan for makers from Offaly and Westmeath.  He was chosen to present his work to the former Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the opening of the Core Crafted Design Centre Ballinahown in 2008.

Ross is a member of Offaly Crafty, and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.