People: Sign painters and lettering artists, past and present

Juan 'el Petudo': Sign Painting King of La Palma

Barely known outside of the Canary Islands, Juan Santana Martin was a renowned local sign painter, leaving a lasting legacy.

People

Chain Letter: Mike Meyer

Mike Meyer Sign Painter shares the stock car lettering and sign painting of his idol, Don Springer.

Woman in a studio holding a hand-painted showcard.

Films

When Better Letters Met Barbara Enright

Award-winning biopic about the life and work of Australian showcard and ticket writer Barbara Enright.

Film banner with photo of fairground horses, title, and laurels from awards.

Films

When Better Letters Met Stan Wilkinson

Biopic about signwriter and fairground artist Stan Wilkinson, known for his work at Carters Steam Fair.

People

Men of Letters Tony Forster & Phill Grimshaw

Work of Tony Forster ('The Herb Lubalin of England') and Phill Grimshaw celebrated in Bolton exhibition.

People

Tracey Thorne’s Hand-Painted Jamaica

Tracey Thorne introduces the Jamaican sign painting scene, and some of the sign painters working there.

Films

Meet Josef Samuel, Vienna’s Last Signpainter

Short biopic about Josef Samuel, fourth-generation Viennese sign painter, and his sign painting museum.

Events

Letters out on the Tiles in London

A chat with Hana Whaler and Jake Tyler about their work on Tactile and the Alphabetics Anonymous team.

People

‘Recovered Letters’ from Juan Nava

Spanish graphic designer Juan Nava recreates lettering on old signs in his 'Letras Recuperadas' project.

Books

Discover Denmark’s Signs with Jakob Engberg

A look inside the visually inspiring Danske Skilte (Danish Signs) by Copenhagen Signs' Jakob Engberg.

History

‘Tickets’ and the French Sign Painter in London

'Tickets' and his sign painting partner are trying to make ends meet in London's sign game in the 1870s.

Slightly fading painted lettering flanked by leaves.

Books

The ‘Brush Master’ of Indianapolis

New Half Letter Press book profiling work of Indianapolis sign painter Jasper Travis, aka Brush Master.

People

Getting Sketchy with Noel B. Weber

Noel B. Weber shares his sign painting and Letterheads story inside the 'Sign Painters Sketch Book'.

People

James Rosenquist: His Billboards Past

James Rosenquist, famous for his work as a (pop) artist, owes a lot to his humble sign painting past.

Detail of hand-painted and gilded fairground ride.

People

Stunning Photos of Vintage Fairground Signs by Fred Fowle

Previously unpublished photos and film about legendary fairground artist and signwriter, Fred Fowle.

People

Celebrity Signwriters, Past & Present

Famous people with sign painting connections, including Duke Ellington, Eric Gill and Sylvia Pankhurst.

Books

Karl Blaschke: Sign Man of Munich

Book documenting (and mapping) the life and work of Munich's all-round sign man Karl Blaschke.

Films

When Better Letters Met Cliff Headford

Short documentary film about retired sign painter Cliff Headford (RIP), including archival photos.