ABOUT

The Story Behind the Craft

Lettering is more than just words on a surface—it’s an art form, a tradition, and a way to bring personality and beauty into everyday life. I create one-of-a-kind hand-painted and gilded signs using age-old techniques, ensuring that each piece is crafted with care, skill, and a touch of magic.

In a world of mass production, I want to keep the heritage of traditional signwriting, gilding & calligraphy alive—introducing more people to the awe-inspiring beauty of these time-honored crafts. My work is designed to spark joy, add color and fun to spaces, and create statement pieces that will be admired and treasured for years to come.

Whether it’s a bold shopfront, a shimmering reverse glass gilded sign, or a hand-painted artwork for your home, each piece I create is infused with passion and personality. My goal is to make lettering an experience—one that captivates, delights, and leaves a lasting impression. CONTACT ME

  • Commission for a bespoke hand-crafted sign showing detail of my hand painting Roman lettering in white 1 shot paint on a black background aluminium sign
  • Commission for a bespoke hand-crafted shop fascia sign for an artisan food shop
  • Signwriting the words Did you know? in orange paint onto white hoarding boards as part of a mural collaboration with Wycombe Museum
  • Commission for a bespoke hand-crafted sign showing a close up detail of the signwriting process
  • Painting canal roses
  • Applying gold leaf to glass for a ommission bespoke hand-crafted glass gold leaf ign
  • Hands holding a stunning typography quote song lyric Let Me Be your Fantasy in gold leaf applied to the reverse of the glass and painted in salmon pink and ivory with mother of pearl inlay and glitter in a white frame
  • Me holding the glue chipped glass CAFFE sign produced at David Smith's glass gold leaf masterclass
  • Me painting the black lettering onto a white painted milestone
  • Me painting letters onto one of the Carters Steam Fair trucks
  • Hands of Katrin Gaska, 20th June 2020
  • Wearing safety painting mask and sitting in front of gold colour angel wings spray painted onto a shop window

Background

Creativity has always been at the heart of what I do. My love for drawing, painting, and decorative art led me to study art and design, setting me on the path to a creative career. My journey into signwriting began when I painted a friend’s narrowboat with traditional canal roses, which soon led to sign commissions and a growing passion for hand-lettering.

I earned a BA Hons degree in Interior Design and spent many years working as a visual merchandiser and display artist for brands including Urban Outfitters, TopShop, Miss Selfridge, Burberry, Scotch House, Liberty London, and M&S. My work spanned everything from styling interiors and dressing windows to prop making, graphic design, mural painting, and signwriting.

In recent years, I’ve fully immersed myself in traditional signwriting and decorative canal art (‘Roses & Castles’). I’ve trained with respected masters of the craft, including Terence at Canal Arts, Phil Speight, Paul Myerscough’s Signpainters Academy, and Joby Carter. In early 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to paint fairground trucks and rides for Carters Steam Fair’s final tour.

That same year, I refined my skills in glass gilding by attending an intensive workshop with David A. Smith, one of the world’s leading ornamental glass artists. Mastering this delicate craft has allowed me to create exquisite reverse glass gilded signs—keeping this timeless tradition alive while making it accessible to modern collectors and businesses.

Inspiration

I find inspiration everywhere—whether it’s in everyday surroundings, vintage typography, or the rich heritage of traditional crafts. I’m always sketching, taking photos, and collecting ideas that spark creativity.

My love for fairground art, circus lettering, and canal art was born from my time travelling the festival scene across the UK and Ireland in the 1990s. The vibrant colors, ornate details, and bold, joyful lettering left a lasting impression on me, shaping the aesthetic I bring to my work today.

With a background in interior design and retail display, I’ve developed a keen eye for color, layout, and composition. This, combined with my passion for traditional techniques, allows me to create unique, beautifully crafted pieces that reflect both heritage and individuality—tailored to your style, taste, and vision.

I would love to hear from you. If you want something unique made specially for you, then please get in touch.

Instagram Feed

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Your Name
Required to work out postage or travel logistics
Quick summary of needs
If it is a lot of text, this can be sent by email
Please include as much information as possible about your preferred colours, lettering styles that you need or like. Do you have a logo that you wish to be replicated? Is the sign or artwork for interior/exterior, what kind of surface- fascia/wall/wood/brick etc.
Please give an approximate idea of size and location
Please include information such as whether we must supply the surface or you will. Whether we will have to work on-site. Budget range is helpful so that we can work with what you have to make the best sign possible.