some surfaces necessitate it; hand-painting is the only way to get lettering onto surfaces such as cladded wood, slate, and brick. And, for those interested in pursuing a signwriting career, she emphasises the importance of practice so that “you can nail the basics before you start adding the fancy stuff”. Jon May Worthing, West Sussex Since 2013 | www.jonmay.studio Jon May first encountered traditional signwriting via the work of master craftsman David Adrian Smith. This inspired him to learn as much as he could about its history and techniques, which he did through attending workshops and collecting old books, trade signs, and ephemera. His first job came in 2013 when a friend invited him to design the logo and hand-painted signage for a tea house in Cambridgeshire, and he never looked back. The vast majority of May’s work is for local businesses and, in addition to signwriting, he also turns his hand to graphic design, branding, packaging, and illustration. He finds that his clients decide on hand-painted signs as they “convey a quality of care and a human touch that resonates” while also “ageing gracefully”. He also points out that traditional signwriting is the best fit for firms that are operating from historic buildings conservation zones, or where businesses are similarly creative in their nature. May advises those wanting to get into the trade to connect with others that have already trodden that path. In addition to reaching out to experienced hands via email and social media, he says that Letterheads events (see SignLink, February/March 2024) have been an invaluable part of his own professional development: “It’s only with the help of others that we progress, learn, and grow”. Some of the things he has learned in doing so are to “value yourself, stay humble, and ask for a deposit before you start work.” The Sunny Sign Co. Hana Sunny Whaler & Jake Tyler Stroud, Gloucestershire Since 2014 (Hana) | 2015 (Jake) www.thesunnysignco.co.uk Hana Sunny Whaler and Jake Tyler met at Falmouth University where the Sign Painters film cemented their interest in the hand-drawn and hand-painted lettering. After graduating, Sunny Whaler set up shop in Bristol before moving to London where Tyler was also running his own signwriting business. They joined forces in 2024 to form The Sunny Sign Co. and have since relocated to Stroud. There they are building up a local clientele, while continuing to serve some of their existing customers in London and further afield. Working as a partnership allows Sunny Whaler and Tyler to bring their different skill sets to a wide range of jobs, offering what they describe as “full design services”. These skills include illustration and graphic design and, while some work has digital elements, or passes through digital formats, every project is started and finished by hand. The bulk of their work is for smaller, independent businesses, and it is briefs from pubs that they particularly relish: “From pictorial hanging signs, to gilded windows, and interior wayfinding – the history of and legacy of pubs, and the signwriting tradition within them, is a real passion for us!” Sunny Whaler and Tyler warn against “romantic” perceptions of signwriting work, which in reality involves “battling the weather, being heckled by the public, and aching in the morning”. But, on the flip side, “the good days are often so good, you’d do it for free!” They also feel blessed to be part of a supportive comADVENTURES IN SIGN PAINTING WITH SAM ROBERTS ▲Dawn Evans gave a classy finish to a sign at the Gloucester Antiques Centre ▼Pub signs are a stock in trade for the Sunny Sign Co. ►Jon May designed, handpainted, gilded, and installed this fascia sign for the Brooksteed micro pub in Worthing 46 email: editor@signlink.co.uk Issue 260 - August / September 2025
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