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My Website Design

It’s always hard to design your own front website page. I had all sorts of  ideas on what I visioned the final design to look like.

By David Smith

December 28, 2010

Decorative Bathroom Mirror

I made this mirror for my wife to keep her happy. I was for ever promising a new mirror in our bathroom and so for her birthday made her an ornate mirror.

By David Smith

December 9, 2010

Dave Smith Victorian Reverse Glass Sign

Made for the end credits of my film  which you can see here. Acid etched lettering with 23crt Gold-Leaf  blended to 12crt Gold. The background was hand painted and finger blended , all the lettering…

By David Smith

December 4, 2010

P.H.Zang Brewing Co - Step by Step

This Victorian reverse glass sign was made for a local pub in my town. It was designed from an original trade card that Rick Glawson bought from an advertising show in Los Angeles.

By David Smith

October 3, 2010

Victorian Reverse Glass

These images are examples of original Victorian glass pieces from pubs scattered around London & the British Isles. This page is a homage to the Victorian glass artists who produced this work 100 years before…

By David Smith

September 26, 2010

American Reverse Glass

This page is dedicated to the American Craftsmen who were continuing & developing glass decoration techniques on the other side of the pond from the late 1800’s onwards. I would also like to mention here…

By David Smith

September 26, 2010

French Embossing

French Embossing is the corroding of glass with an acid to produce a great variety of Tones, textures and decorations. Very widely used during the Victorian period and still practiced today.

By David Smith

September 21, 2010

Heat Slumped Glass Signs

Various examples of curved glass made in my studio, using the same basic techniques of Victorian craftsman. The later pictures show the technique of forming the glass in a kiln to a pre-shaped metal former.

By David Smith

September 21, 2010

Mural Painting

A blast from the past! Some of my early hand-painted, pictorial work. Large paintings onto painted plywood.

By David Smith

September 21, 2010

Glue Chipped Glass

Glue Chipped Glass has to be one of the most intriguing techniques of reverse glass. I was first exposed to the glue chipping technique on glass while on holiday at the Disneyland Park in Aneheim,…

By David Smith

September 19, 2010

Etched Bicycle Glass Sign

This small glass panel employs acid-etching through a painted resist known as asphaltum. The outer border was tool-nipped on the edge and chemical silvered. Detail on the bike is scratched through gold and painted. The…

By David Smith

September 4, 2010

Restored Glass Signs

When presented with aged & damaged examples of early reverse glass advertising pieces & ornate mirrors, it is important to restore sensitively.

By David Smith

September 4, 2010

Brilliant Cut Glass

This labour intensive work rewards all of the effort it takes to produce, with a finished result that glitters & reflects light like no other glass finish.

By David Smith

August 21, 2010

My Morris Traveler Van

These iconic vehicles were common place on the roads of Britain in the 1960’s and 1970’s The Morris Minor van was more often used as a trade vehicle than the 1968 Morris Traveller pictured here,…

By David Smith

August 20, 2010

Connecticut Valley Tobacconist

This design was produced to a high resolution for reproduction on a panel, 40ft x 30ft at a tobacconist convention in Las Vegas, USA 2008. As with all of my work, it was drawn by…

By David Smith

August 11, 2010