Here are some articles I have found on sign writing;
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2015/jan/14/revival-handpainted-sign-high-streets-in-pictures
'It’s estimated that there are about 300 full-time signwriters working in the UK. It’s a diverse group made up of experienced painters who may have obtained a now obsolete City & Guilds qualification and a young generation interested in all things bespoke'
This states to me that there is an obvious need for sign writers, some of the signs in this article are truly beautiful and eye catching.
'The business grew rapidly – Ambridge Signs had the accounts for several major breweries, including Charringtons, Watneys and Truman’s. In this fast-paced business it was often ‘all hands on deck’, and Hardwicke was regularly exposed to the wide range of work undertaken. Ambridge Signs was turning out decorative work and pictures for hanging signs, as well as ornate gilded lettering, glasswork and cut letters.
Ambridge Signs was then based in De Beauvoir Town in North London, only a couple of miles from Hardwicke’s current stomping ground, an area once home to a number of signwriting companies, including Silver Signs on Buckingham Road and Reynolds Displays on New North Road.
What Hardwicke learned at Ambridge Signs was guided by Paul Gurney, who in turn learned from Ted Ambridge himself. Ambridge was trained by Ken Murphy, and so Hardwicke often talks about his professional lineage ‘going back three generations’. Many signwriters talk about their heritage in similar terms, reflecting the apprenticeship approach to learning that persists in this and other traditional crafts such as printing and bookbinding.'
http://www.eyemagazine.com/feature/article/writing-the-city
This article is about a sign writer called peter hardwicke, hardwicke sign writes in London.
'The business grew rapidly – Ambridge Signs had the accounts for several major breweries, including Charringtons, Watneys and Truman’s. In this fast-paced business it was often ‘all hands on deck’, and Hardwicke was regularly exposed to the wide range of work undertaken. Ambridge Signs was turning out decorative work and pictures for hanging signs, as well as ornate gilded lettering, glasswork and cut letters.
Ambridge Signs was then based in De Beauvoir Town in North London, only a couple of miles from Hardwicke’s current stomping ground, an area once home to a number of signwriting companies, including Silver Signs on Buckingham Road and Reynolds Displays on New North Road.
What Hardwicke learned at Ambridge Signs was guided by Paul Gurney, who in turn learned from Ted Ambridge himself. Ambridge was trained by Ken Murphy, and so Hardwicke often talks about his professional lineage ‘going back three generations’. Many signwriters talk about their heritage in similar terms, reflecting the apprenticeship approach to learning that persists in this and other traditional crafts such as printing and bookbinding.'
http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/ged-palmer-interview
Ged Palmer is also a sign writer. This is an interview about his work,
here are some of my favourite questions/answers from the interview.
Lettering and sign painting have definitely been enjoying a resurgence in recent years. The thing about lettering is that you are making something custom for your client. There will always be space in the world for people who want something unique and not an off-the-shelf product. It’s like hiring a furniture maker rather than going to Ikea.
“The great thing about lettering and sign painting is there is so much history, so many styles and techniques that you can never really learn it all.”
There’s a huge number of techniques that go into traditional sign writing, not just the lettering but brushwork, gilding, etching etc. Which has been the most rewarding to learn?
A couple of years ago I went out to San Francisco in search of more experience in sign painting. I spent a month at Golden West Sign Arts and was very fortunate to learn about gold leaf gilding on glass from Derek McDonald. For me that was when I tried to make sign painting and gilding my main focus. Gold work requires a lot of concentration and patience and I am still learning so much on each job. You can combine matt and mirror effects, different types of gold, glue chipping, acid etching – you name it. I’ve heard it described as “half alchemy, half art.” Which I think is kind of fitting.'
No comments:
Post a Comment