The Tools of a Vanishing Trade
Hand lettering demanded patience and precision. It could take days to complete a sign and each surface presented its own challenge. Timber soaked up paint differently than masonry, and glass required a special touch, reverse painting, for example, meant writing the lettering backwards so it would appear correctly from the outside.
There were subtle but important techniques: blending colours to give depth, curling strokes to create rhythm, even building up drop shadows with layered linework. These subtleties lent character to a sign, making it feel like part of the building itself, rather than something merely stuck on.
From Brushes to Vinyl: Technology’s Rise
Today, the signage landscape has shifted dramatically. Vinyl cutters, laser engravers and large format printers offer speed, repeatability and cost efficiency. A digital file can be tweaked, outputted and installed within hours, perfect for time sensitive campaigns, mass production and interchangeable branding.
Vector software allows designers to scale logos seamlessly and preview layouts on digital mockups. LED illumination, CNC routing and powder coated metal finishes dominate the technical vocabulary. And let’s be honest, these tools have empowered many businesses to achieve slick, modern results with previously unreachable precision.
Still, there's a loss beneath the gloss. Standardised fonts and uniform materials lead to streetscapes lacking character. A high street filled with pristine, printed signage might be legible, but it rarely tells you anything about the people behind the storefront.
Where Tradition Still Lives
Thankfully, the art hasn’t vanished entirely. In pockets across the UK, a new generation of signwriters is rediscovering the brush. Driven by a love for craft, character and heritage, they’re reintroducing hand lettering for pubs, cafes, barbershops and boutiques wanting something "real."
Social media has played an unexpected role in this revival, with signwriters sharing timelapses, behind the scenes sketches and studio tips to wide eyed followers who’ve never seen brushwork in action. There’s even been a rekindling of gold leaf gilding on windows, an ultra niche, ultra beautiful technique that still turns heads.
Why It Matters
Signwriting isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about authenticity, personality and storytelling. For business owners, choosing hand painted signage signals values that many customers admire: care over convenience, individuality over conformity, heritage over trend chasing.
It also encourages sustainable thinking. Paint lasts. It doesn’t peel, bubble or rely on plastic. It can be refreshed and repurposed and it doesn’t end up in landfill every few years.
More importantly, it rehumanises our built environment. The connection between maker and message becomes part of the experience. You don’t just walk past a sign, you feel something about the business it represents.
