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Fading painted signs with Sam Roberts

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Lettering

RIP: 154 Bishopsgate EC2

This elegant painted sign adorning the stonework above the entrance to 154 Bishopsgate, London EC2, is no more, recently replaced by mounted metal letters (see … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

36 Porto Signs

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, largely due to work on the book taking over for the last six months or so. Following a … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations
E.Mono Shop Front

E.Mono in North London

Back in 2011 an old 1920s shop fascia was revealed on Kentish Town High Street. The nature of the E.Mono business remains a mystery but … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Preservation, Sign Stories, Signs of Note

Writing on the Whale and Other Novelties

Joe Thompson emailed me these fascinating photos of lettering on unusual objects, namely a dead whale (1919) and a shipwrecked oil tanker (1926). They are … Read more

Categories Signs of Note

Fairground Lettering at Carters Steam Fair

Not ghostsigns, but I thought that readers of this blog would also appreciate some of the fantastic lettering at Carters Steam Fair that was recently … Read more

Categories Sign Destinations
Small plaque for Pickering & Mayell

Ghost Signs and Public Lettering in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter

On 21 May, before my Type Talk at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, I helped lead a walk through the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter. … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations
Better Letters Logo

Introducing Better Letters

In the course of my research into painted signs over the last eight years I have become increasingly aware of the brilliant work that is … Read more

Categories Sign Initiatives, Sign Making
Remains of painted Victorian lettering

History Repeating: A Stunning Reveal on Bethnal Green Road

While creating this beautiful new signage for Casa Blue, Ash Bishop of The Brilliant Sign Co. alerted me to an astonishing discovery inside the premises … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Sign Stories, Signs of Note
Different letters found in Dalston assembled to make the phrase 'Club Labrynth'

Rediscovering Club Labrynth on a Type Safari

This is my creation following Sunday’s Type Safari in Dalston with Type Tasting. It is a composite of various pieces of public lettering and signage … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Destinations
Stencil and result of Sam Roberts' Beanfeast piece

Beanfeast: Ghostsigns at Type Tasting

This is my/Ghostsigns’ submission to an inspiring project from Type Tasting, part of this year’s London Design Festival. It will be displayed alongside works from … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Stories
'O to the Priory Church

Public lettering walk with Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining Phil Baines and Catherine Dixon on their latest Public Lettering walk, organised through the excellent St Bride Library … Read more

Categories Sign Destinations, Sign Folk
Born and Raised by David A Smith and John Mayer

Born and Raised from David A Smith, John Mayer and Danny Cooke

This has left me speechless. Sublime. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. Thank you to David, John and Danny for bringing the story of this piece of work to … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making, Signs in Media

It’s Alive: Gilding with Ken Davis

Ken Davis – It’s Alive from Taylor Morgan on Vimeo. Hope you enjoy this short film about the gilder Ken Davis and his piece on … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making, Signs in Media
Cover of Hamburg Alphabet book by Chris Campe

Hamburg Alphabet by Chris Campe

Hamburg Alphabet by Chris Campe is a delightful expose of one German city’s signage and public lettering. Featuring 220 images it catalogues these examples in … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations, Signs in Media
Khmer lettering on the cover of Hand Painted Signs of Kratie

Creating the cover for Hand Painted Signs of Kratie

Today, after three weeks of checking back on an almost daily basis, I caught Kratie signpainter Chouk Rachana at work on the cover for my … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Signs in Media
Still from a film by Marco Puccini

Flamboyant calligraphy from Luca Barcellona & Francesca Biasetton

In a slight departure from painted lettering here is a film by Marco Puccini showcasing some flamboyant examples of inked lettering using a variety of … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Signs in Media
Jack Daniel's Declaration of Independence poster

Declarations of Independence campaign from Jack Daniel’s

Today is Independence Day in the USA.  Last year, to celebrate, Jack Daniel’s worked with letter-press experts Yee-Haw Industries and the team at Colossal Media … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making, Signs in Media
Lead Lettering Nunhead Cemetery

Lead lettering from Caroline’s Miscellany

Photo: Caroline Derry A fascinating new form of public lettering (at least for me) on this blog post from Caroline’s Miscellany.

Categories Sign Folk, Signs of Note
Ira Coyne Handpainted Spirit Board

Spirit (Ouija) Board lettering from Ira Coyne

This is one of a collection of brightly coloured Ouija boards from Ira Coyne on Faythe Levine’s blog.  It appears that even spirits can swear … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making
Characters by Stephen Banham book cover

Melbourne’s signage in beautiful book form

Characters by Stephen Banham looks to be one of the must have new books on signage and public lettering.  It is high on my want … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Signs in Media

When letter-press meets hand painted advertising on walls: San Miguel Fresca posters

I’m briefly back in London and it is hard not to notice this poster campaign for San Miguel’s new summer beer, Fresca.  (That might have … Read more

Categories Individual Signs
Simple hand lettering film from British Pathe

Is this the easiest hand lettering technique possible?

Geraldine discovered this lovely little film from British Pathe, a ‘how to’ guide for a simple block lettering form.  It even doubles as a secret … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Signs in Media

A Clever Twist on Hand-Made/Painted Lettering

This fascinating project explores the relationships between upper and lower case letters, and the transitions between them, using hands and paint.  (Found via Creative Review.)

Categories Sign Making
Stencilled sign on wall saying not to park because of lorries loading and unloading

Graphic DNA documents the visual language of the street

I’ve recently been in regular contact with Geraldine Marshall whose project, Graphic DNA, caught my attention.  It is the topic of her PhD thesis, under … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Initiatives
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Welcome

Hi, I'm Sam. I hope you enjoy learning about fading painted signs on this site. Please get in touch (sam@ghostsigns.co.uk) with discoveries and questions.

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Blog Topics

  • Signs of Note
  • Sign Stories
  • Sign Collections
  • Sign Initiatives
  • Sign Preservation
  • Sign Destinations
  • Sign Folk
  • Sign Making
  • Signs in Media
  • Inspired by Signs

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