Signwriter

Signwriters design, manufacture and install signs, including advertising signs for shops, businesses and public facilities as well as signs for transport systems.

Signwriting today

Traditional signwriting is enjoying a revival largely due to North American writers and their growing influence on English and European sign artisans such as David A. Smith in Torquay, England. Traditional signwriters use methods closely related to those of the fore-bearers of this craft and do not depend on technology - they are able to set out a sign with chalk and write it by eye in freehand. They do not rely on fonts and normally have their own individual lettering styles yet with the ability to render fonts closely to brand and for example architectural design briefs.

Designs are however still often created by hand on the drawing board and later combine with CAD software for preliminary layout production. The final execution is made by hand using brushes know as quills and similar signwriting 'pencils' and chiseled brushes. Specialist enamels are also employed to fashion a long lasting finish along with the traditional use of gold leaf.