People: Sign painters and lettering artists, past and present

Woman painting pink Roman letters onto a light olive-green wall.

People

Getting (Back) Into It for 2025

Advice on getting into the craft of sign painting from five people who have done just that.

Photo from from the air of a hot air balloon hand-painted with Renaissance-inspired art.

People

From Billboards to Balloons: Charlie Markert's Sky High Art

A career as a billboard pictorial artist paved the way into the niche of hot air balloon painting.

People

Irish Mosaics: From Roscommon to the World

Vanessa Power gets inspired by Thomas Kilroe, the creative force behind Roscommon's Irish Mosaics.

Panel from a comic showing two lovers discussing a sign ('Amore, I ❤️ U') that the man has painted for the woman.

Films

Now Streaming: Married to Comics by John Kinhart

Comic artists Justin Green and Carol Tyler profiled in this feature-length documentary.

A bar with bottles of beer on shelves in a window display, and hand-painted lettering on the fascia basking in sunlight.

Places

Signwriting-on-Sea: The Rich Craft Heritage of Hastings, East Sussex

Charlie Nelson on Hasting's signwriting history, and how the town continues to embrace the craft.

Black and white photo of a trailer decorated with flamboyant lettering advertising a fairground ride.

Events

The Fairground Painters with Amy Goodwin

Dive into the Dingles Fairground Museum collection, and meet the artists that produced the work.

Top of a gable end wall with large black letters painted on it that say "One man's trash, another man's treasure".

People

Chain Letter: Guido de Boer

Visual artist and educator Guido de Boer finds meaning in a phrase painted on a Copenhagen wall.

History

🎉 75 Today: Happy Birthday A.S. Handover! 🎉

Wishing all at A.S. Handover a happy 75th birthday, and giving thanks for their continued support.

Small sign with yellow border, picture of a chicken cutting ham, and lettering that reads 'Gallo Nero, Delicatessen, Londra'.

Places

Signs of the Summer: Postcards from a Busman's Holiday

A brush with Napoli in London, French ghost signs, George Biles in Bridport, and more holiday snaps.

Lisa Simpson looking at a sign that says "keep out" above another that says "or enter. I'm a sign, not a cop".

Books

¡Ay, Caramba! It's Cartoon Time

Collection of humourous cartoons with sign painting, lettering, type, and calligraphic themes.

Head and shoulders view of a man in a baseball cap in front of a window sign that reads "Hunger Buster".

Films

"A Piece of Urban Theatre": J.J. of LA

Meet J.J. of LA, Atlanta sign painter, in this recently republished documentary by Kelly Richardson.

Sepia photo of a topless man resting his arm on the back of a truck that has hand-painted lettering on the door.

People

A Mystery Sign Painter from 1950s Cuba

Photos of a Cuban sign painter and his work appear on eBay and make their way to Letterform Archive.

Black and white photo of an elderly man with a painter's palette standing in front of a 'Welcome to Bridport' sign.

People

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of Signwriters

The diverse and prolific output of sign painter George Biles and his Bridport Signs Service Studios.

Black and white photo of New York street with signs and graffiti on buildings behind a parking lot and men moving a cart.

People

Chain Letter: Marie Pressmar

Lettering artist Marie Pressmar is inspired by graffiti, signs, and more in a photo of New York.

Bright pink sign kit with a cartoon sign painter, a list of services, and contact details for Keith Knecht, Toledo, Ohio.

Books

Snapper: Keith Knecht

Keith Knecht shares some of his tales of a travelling sign painter in John J. Hodgins' Snapper book.

View of a hand holding a brush painting a red shadow on golden block letters on a window.

Films

Meet Claude Dolbec: Montreal's Elusive Sign Painter

Short documentary feature about Montreal's most prolific, but elusive sign painters: Claude Dolbec.

People

India's Sign-Wallas: On the Brush on the Subcontinent

Meena Kadri takes us to India to appreciate the flamboyant work of the country's 'sign-wallas'.

Man and woman facing the camera, holding a framed sign that reads "Barker Signs, Est. 1964".

People

60 Years On the Brush: The Barker Signs Story

Maurie Barker founded Barker Signs in 1964, with his daughter Liane now keeping things hand-painted.