From Concept To Finished Masterpiece.
Fast Track Your Knowledge & Confidence to create stunning glass signs on any scale.
In this course you will learn professional signwriting techniques; from design and layout to gold gilding, fine lettering, glass signage, and finishing touches that transform any concept into a visually stunning, high-impact sign.
Learn the Secrets of Professional Glass Sign Making and Signwriting Excellence.
Your Transformation Starts Here!
“I hold nothing back in this signature course.” – Dave Smith.
Why This Course?
Expert Step By Step Guidance
Learn directly from David A. Smith, a world-renowned glass artist with decades of experience and a deep passion for the craft. Every lesson and project is broken down into clear, step-by-step processes, making it easy to follow along and achieve professional-quality results.
Master Design & Layout
Discover the secrets to creating eye-catching designs and layouts that command attention. Learn how to confidently take any concept or idea and transform it into a beautifully balanced masterpiece that can be scaled to any size or application.
Gold Gilding & Fine Lettering
Master the art of creating flawless gold-gilded letters and elegant glass signs. David shares refined techniques and professional secrets for achieving crisp, precise fine lettering that reflects the highest standards of traditional craftsmanship.
Create Signs with Real WOW Factor
Learn the vital design principles that separate average signs from truly exceptional work. Understand how to combine layout, lettering, proportion, and finishing details to create signage that captivates attention and leaves a lasting impression.
From Concept to Shopfront Signage
Learn how to transfer and scale your designs for stunning glass shopfront signage and large-format projects. Gain a clear understanding of the foundational principles, practical processes, and advanced Victorian-inspired techniques that bring timeless elegance to your work.
Fast-Track Your Success
David holds nothing back, sharing the proven methods, professional insights, and signature finishing touches he has developed throughout his career. With flexible self-paced learning, you can build your skills project by project, at your own pace, from the comfort of your home.
About The Course
In this comprehensive self-paced course, you’ll learn how to take a simple idea and sketch and transform it into your own stunning, signature gold-gilded glass sign with professional balance, razor-sharp lettering, and the kind of finishing detail that stops people in their tracks every time.
From the fundamental principles of layout and design, through to my signature shading and finishing techniques, every lesson is built around giving you the confidence, the knowledge, and the craft skills to create stunning work you’re truly proud of — whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned tradesperson looking to master a new discipline.
This isn’t just a course. It’s a decade’s worth of refined technique, design instinct, and professional mastery — all accessible from anywhere, at your own pace, and applicable for a lifetime of projects.
By the end of this course, you’ll have the skills to design and execute stunning shopfront glass signs that sell themselves — and the creative confidence to put your own signature on every piece you make.
What’s Included
This Course represents exceptional value and includes
Step By Step instructions on everything you will need to master the art of Gilding On Glass, including all the materials and supplies needed and where to source them.
All the design files are included in various formats, such as PDF, JPEG & SVG, etc, to allow you to quickly and easily download them and get started.
Step By Step supportive, instructional video lessons for each project that will take you carefully through each of the processes to successfully complete the course project.
Continual access to the course to be able to go back and revisit required sections of the course.
Bonus Value Included
Bonus Font Included – Valued at £50!
Enrol Now & receive the exact font I used for the course in a digital format to make your designs perfect.
About your tutor
I’m a signwriter, glass gilder and designer based in Torquay. I began my career at 15, training under three master craftsmen and completing a six-year apprenticeship.
This foundation led me to the global Letterhead movement, connecting with talented artists across the United States and beyond. In 1996, I began teaching others this traditional craft while continuing to create bespoke gilded glass signs and vintage-inspired designs for clients worldwide.
My work has appeared in newspapers, international magazines and films. A recent highlight was designing an ornate set of reverse glass signs and carved frames for Ludlow Blunt, the renowned barbershop in Brooklyn.
Today, I still enjoy hand lettering shopfronts and pubs across Torbay. In 2019, I was honoured to receive an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II.
You can see a list of clients I have worked with and read the full story here.
”I feel very privileged to have attended a Dave Smith workshop and learned from the master craftsman himself. An excellent teacher of glass work gilding with a fun sense of humour!
Paul Walters
From the comfort of your own home
This online glass gilding course means you can access the course from home, take your time to set up your home workshop and learn with me, from scratch.
Some of the early sections of the course will help you get the right equipment, detailling what is important, where to get it from and what to look out for.
No experience necessary
You don’t need to be an artist, able to draw vectors, ever painted glass or touched golf leaf – but you soon will have experience of all of these!
If you have some experience of all or any of these, then great, but I’m sure the breadth of the course will offer some valuable tips to even the experienced.
Learn at a pace that suits you
The teachable platform will lay out the course curriculum into 5-15 min video sections. You just log in and work your way at your leisure.
It will remember where you got to last time, and you can stay in (or revisit) any section forever more – Meaning you have a course for life and can truly go at your own speed.
What Current Students Say
See What Ross Learnt
Hear from Ross, one of my current students who enrolled in my advanced class.
Micki Cavanah.
Current Student
“The online platform’s flexibility allows me to easily revisit and review specific sections whenever I need to.
I wholeheartedly recommend David Smith’s online classes to anyone seeking to learn or refine their glass signage gilding skills. The instructions are clear, concise, and easy to follow, and the self-paced format provides a highly personalised learning experience. It truly feels like having a one-on-one class with David himself.”
Andrew Had This To Say.
“In the past, I’ve spent hours and days working on a piece, trying to get it chipped, only having to throw it in the bin because it all went wrong. The step-by-step methods David takes you through in this course are invaluable to getting it right. This course more than pays for itself.” – Andrew
Steve From Wales Couldn’t Be Happier
He had this to say about Davids previous courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for beginners at any skill level who wish to master the craft of designing beautiful reverse glass signage. Each carefully constructed lesson is designed to build on your skill level as you work through the course.
I’ve never glass gilded before. Is this course suitable for me?
This course has been designed for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced sign makers and artists looking to refine their craft. You’ll learn the fundamental principles of glass sign design, layout, lettering, and composition before progressing to advanced techniques in gold gilding, fine lettering, and professional glass sign production. Through each comprehensive module, you’ll gain the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to transform your ideas into stunning glass signs that showcase both traditional craftsmanship and timeless elegance.
Is there a set time limit for the course?
The course is 100% self-paced, meaning you have access to it for as long as you need. It will always be available, and you can learn at your own pace. You can always go back and revise pictures that you need to refresh on. It’s a one-time enrolment, and you will always have access.
I can’t draw or have limited drawing ability. Can I still do the course?
You don’t need to be able to draw proficiently to do the course. All the design files are provided in the course and available for you to download and print out in many different formats, including JPEG, PDF, SVG, etc.
I don’t know what materials I will need or where to get them?
The course will take you through absolutely every piece of equipment and materials you will need to undertake the course successfully. There is also a detailed list of suppliers broken down into various regions to help you locate the materials needed.
I’m on a tight budget. Do I have to get all the materials and supplies in one go?
At the start of each project, there is a detailed list of materials and supplies you will need for that particular project. Because the course has no time limit and is self-paced, you can purchase supplies and materials as your budget allows, and you are ready to move on to the next project.
Enrol Now To Start Learning
Start creating your very own gold gilded glass art from the comfort of your home
£450/ one time payment
Complete Life Time Access To The Course & Materials
Everything You Need to Master the Art of Glass Sign Making
Self Paced Learning From The Comfort Of Your Home
All The Help And Support To Guarantee Your Success
My Font Included for Free – Worth £50!