A two colour convex letter on a reproduction vintage vehicle.
All of the photographs on this page are examples of hand lettering. The use of self adhesive vinyl letters means that we tend to see less traditional signwriting nowadays, however the use of paint as a medium for this kind of work should not be underestimated. Prior to the introduction of vinyl lettering it was all hand done. This page features some of my sign jobs done over the years and is a vinyl free zone.
In Scotland signwriters' apprenticeships were unheard of and if you wanted to be a signwriter the only way into the trade was through a painting and decorating apprenticeship. This meant that signwriting was considered to be an integral part of the work of the painter. Of course it was seen as specialised branch of the trade similar to that of the grainer and marbler. Most painting and decorating businesses employed a signwriter and a great variety of of work was undertaken under the banner of the decorating trade. Freelance signwriters or the self employed hired their services to shops who did not have a writer of their own. For the new start, learning the sign trade in those days, was all about going to night classes after a hard days work painting. In my case I went to "night school" as we called it, for 7 years at Napier College in Edinburgh (two nights per week). I have fond memories of the classes under the guidance of our teacher, Ian Moracen. Whilst learning the art of lettering was a serious matter we had many a laugh at the stories told during the class.
The signwriters of yesteryear could not rely on the use of technology to assist them in producing the finished article. They had to rely on their skill with the brush and regardless of the quantity or size of the lettering, the entire job was hand done. The example below illustrates the point with a considerable amount of very small text on the van and this was all done by brush and was completed in one day.
The brush painted graphic was used to add character to the layout.
The coloured bands were hand painted using ICI transport colour.
A large graphic dominates the composition.
A prismatic lettering job.
The prismatic lettering featured above is only used on the primary lettering to add considerable impact to the job. This kind of work is fairly time consuming but shows the versatility of paint. With the correct use of colour it reall creates a three dimensional image that fools the eye. This particular job uses seven different colours to achieve a result. Four shades of blue on the main letter, highlights are white, with black on the shadowed edges and a grey cast shadow.
A close up of the prismatic lettering.
A traction engine lined and lettered around 1983.
Projecting the company image.
A reverse painted window.