Turn Of The Century

My Glue Chipping Journey I will never forget the first time I saw Glue Chipping in a sign. It happened during my visit to Disneyland Anaheim with my now-wife. We passed an ornate Pop Corn Stand in the park when…

In the world of artisanal glasswork, few techniques capture the imagination and skill quite like glue chipping. With its origins shrouded in history and its allure enduring through the ages, glue-chipping glass stands as a testament to the ingenuity and…

Receiving my MBE at Windsor Castle was a memorable occasion. But I will never forget the moment I set eyes on Michelin House. Inside and out, this beautiful building is a stunning example of London's eclectic architecture - and has…

One of the pieces of work I have often wanted to write about is the Art Nouveau design I produced for Les Vraies Richesses, a bakery in Quebec. This article is all about how I first came across this lovely…

John Althouse and F.A. Geiger were two talented American artisans who made the decision to move to Sydney in the late 19th Century. As this story reveals, their arrival was to have an immediate and lasting impact on the signwriting…

Have you ever come across a piece of gilded art that has taken your breath away? Gold, the most noble of metals, has always mesmerised people, and even the process of 'goldbeating' to create gold leaf is fascinating. Let me…

Have you ever wondered how signwriters create that elegant gold leaf lettering you often see on classic reverse-painted glass signs, pubs, restaurants and tattoo shops? From collecting your materials to applying gold leaf to glass, this article outlines the basics…

As of writing this post, QEST has provided over £5 million in funding to around 700 craftspeople across 130 traditional disciplines. But what exactly is QEST? Keep reading to learn all about this fantastic organisation, including how to get funding…

Have you ever wondered how a master gilder crafts ornate lettering for signs or printed designs (e.g. tattoo art?) It requires a combination of specialist skills and carefully sourced suppliers, and this post takes you through the entire process I…

Making Mirror solution for creating a chemical deposited reflective surface. The cloud effect is from the two chemicals coming together.