This glass sign was made as a birthday present for Gerald from his wife Sue. Gerald is also a traditional signwriter, but his main love and hobby is traction engines. He owns and operates a beautiful original traction engine called the Mistress.

Over the years, he has fully restored the Mistress to its former glory. Sue Whittaker commissioned me to make Gerald this glass sign in 2008.

The panel is glue chipped and silvered, the centre artwork is hand-painted, the main copy is acid mica etched and the name Mistress is deep blasted and gilded. Some of the scroll work is brilliant-cut and water gilded. Shaded letters are hand blended with enamels and various shades of gold-leaf were used for the lettering and flourishes. The glass sign is 39"s x 27"s and is quarter inch plate glass.

Several of the photos here take you through the making of this sign.