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UK Traditional Sign writing Revival, Rochester, Kent
UK’s Traditional Signwriting Revival!
Over 90 traditional signcraft artists from all over the world celebrated the crafts of signwriting, gilding, pinstriping and graining in Rochester, Kent. Attendees included top international sign artists such as David Adrian Smith, a world renowned traditional ornamental glass artist. East Coast Artie, a pinstriping Legend from California, USA. Mike Meyer The Traveling Signpainter from Minnesota, USA and David Kynaston one of the UK’s top signwriters, based in Wales
Across the weekend the signwriters were joined by 15 international students who were able to learn from the wealth of experience and talent on hand and partake in a number of workshops looking into traditional signwriting, wood graining, pinstriping and glass gilding. Projects were sourced from across the south east and in exchange for lettering or pinstriping the lucky owners donated generously to the chosen charity for the meet, Arthritis Research UK.
The event concluded with a charity auction, where each signwriter brought with them, or created across the weekend a variety of panels, designs and articles. In total the event raised a massive £3646.56 for Arthritis Research UK.
Event Organiser Kate Belmonte, 30 from Gillingham, Kent also curated an exhibition entitled ‘Signs of Our Times’. Kate was over the moon to receive such a positive and excited response from those viewing the exhibition and boasts ‘we had the greatest collection of Signwriting Art in the entire world in one place’.
Kate a freelance graphic designer and signage project manager became enthralled with traditional signwriting from a very early age, her father Mick Pollard is renowned across Kent and within the Letterheads Community for his traditional signwriting talent. Using her previous experience in the exhibition industry she organised the first International UK Letterheads Meet in just over 7 years and was astounded at how fast the event grew and how far afield artists were willing to travel to partake in the event. ‘Letterhead Meets are generally on a smaller scale, with traditional signwriters often hosting the meets within their workshop space but when Mick approached me about hosting our own event, well, I don’t do things in half measures!’.
The meet was a huge success benefiting all who attended. ‘There’s already plenty of talk of when the next meet will be and who will take on the challenge of pinning so many master craftsman down at the same time. We are even looking into the possibility of hosting the first ever UK Walldogs event, where signwriters descend upon a town and community to paint a variety of large wall murals, which in turn boosts local tourism and bonds communities together.
Subscribe to Pinstriping & Kustom Graphics Magazine for Kate’s regular feature: Letterheads Corner.
Mick Pollard and the mayor of Rochester enjoying the Fileteado Porteño work:
Wayne Osborne at work on his Dickens portrait and Risto at work on a small panel:
Dan shows off his Horn Please panel, a John Lenning original, after bidding for it in the auction and sign created by Bob Perry to let the people of Rochester know about the exhibition of work inside the Corn Exchange:
David Kynaston’s signwriter box:
Adding a bit of colour to the usually dull vehicles in Rochester’s car parks:
Decorating the hood in the car park:
Lettering on this old truck with the payment going to Arthritis Research UK, the designated charity for the whole weekend:
Morris Dancers show the international visitors what British culture is all about…:
Andy Wright’s glass panel, started before the meet and finished in Rochester and Cornbread illustrates one of Dickens’ less well-known lines.
The Pearly King of Mile End, the Wandering Scribe and me getting photo bombed by Mike Meyer and one of many pieces taking the mick out of Mick the host:
For further information:
Kate Belmonte
01634 814117
07739 965596
kate@lbsigns.co.uk
http://www.lbsigns.co.uk
http://www.ukletterheads2014.co.uk
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4 Replies
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This is so nice to see. And right on my door step too!! :lol1:
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I had planned being there about 12 months in advance and had to miss out at the last minute due to work commitments.
I was at the one in Stirling Scotland hosted by Stewart McLaren of McLaren Signs. It was really good, really nice people and so much amazing talent in one place. -
I would have liked to have gone as well especially as they said it may be the last one held in the UK but thought it might have been a little bit to far for me to travel at the time.
Just have to hope another one is hosted in the UK during my lifetime now, takes years for them to plan these events so fingers crossed. -
beautiful work there guys
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