I’m going to ‘fess up and admit to a touch of nepotism from the off. Paul/ Grandpa is my father in law (it probably wouldn’t have taken you too long to work that out given the name would it?) and a fine signwriter. He’s one of only a handful of handpainted traditional signwriters and is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Paul studied Graphic Design at Ealing College of Art in the seventies and counted Freddie Mercury amongst his contemporaries. Over the years Paul has produced handpainted signs, murals and gold leafing for some of the country’s most prestigious establishments – the Royal Hall in Harrogate, Daleside Brewery and Chelsea’s Lots Road galleries – as well as a good chunk of signs for local chippies, chinese restaurants and small businesses.
The sad news is that traditional signwriting is (quite literally) a dying art, and there are only a small number of practitioners in the UK. Like many things, signs have gone digital, reducing the cost and enabling companies to enjoy a wide variety of styles, quickly.
I can’t help thinking that something has been lost though. A vinyl sign just isn’t the same as a traditional handpainted sign. And that’s the premise of my coffee with Paul this week.
The industry must have changed a lot over the last 40 years – is that for the better or worse?
The big problem is that there are no new practitioners coming through. All the courses are gone, there are no apprenticeships and there are just people like me practicing. I’m self taught and it’s very hard for new signwriters to learn the old skills. I’m an old style graphic designer. Typography, wordspacing and letterspacing are in my genes, in my blood. It’s hard to teach that kind of thing and so sadly that is going to be lost as traditional signwriters retire.
There is a small but growing interest in signs and I hope that like letterpress, we start to see younger people practicing.
Do you think there’s still a place for handpainted signs in today’s market?
Yes, I do, and there’s been a bit of a resurgence in traditional handpainted signwriting recently.
5-6 years ago I wasn’t sure, Everyone wanted cheap, quick, vinyl signs and they didn’t especially want the handpainted look, but now there is a real demand for it, especially with upmarket shops and sole traders. Lots of shops in Harrogate want handpainted look and any old place: York, Guildford, parts of London the planners say look for a traditional signwriter. It’s good to see them valuing the art.
You must have some great stories to tell – who was your favourite commission for?
Oh my goodness, there’s quite a few actually.
The website has pulled in some really interesting commissions. I recently worked with a Lord and Lady a high profile music producer, a woman with an ornate Victorian servants bell to restore who had been looking for someone to do that sort of thing for ages. I certainly won’t advertise in the traditional way again.
What’s your favourite sort of work?
I love working with the Breweries, it’s really the the Rolls Royce of signwriting. Any good signwriter will tell you the same thing: it’s that mix of illustration with lettering. If you like typography, which I do, mixing the two to make a really nice pub sign which will last for a long time is really rewarding. I do a lot of work with Daleside and Sam Smiths and those jobs keep me pretty busy really.
Last week I did a picture sign for a pub called The Lobster, which was basically a giant pink lobster! I’ve also just finished a sign for another pub called The Valley near Bradford – I love this work because it’s a chance to be creative and use all my skills.
I really like doing shopfronts, and recently painted a shopfront in Harrogate which was looking a bit tired. It’s given it a whole new lease of life.
Historic work is another really rewarding type of work. I do a lot of lettering for old busses, trains and old cars. People are always really pleased when I add the lettering to a restored old tractor, bus or racing car. Lettering finishes it off. Before that it’s just a shiny machine and they often comment “now it looks like it should”. It’s the finishing touch.
My scariest job was being 60ft up in an arial crane painting the Portakabin logo on the side of 5 cranes in a factory near York. The wind was shaking you around, paint flying everywhere and you couldn’t look down as it was just a sheer drop. The lettering stretched 10m, it was quite a task.
How can people get in touch if they’re interested in you painting them a sign or mural?
Through my smart new website http://paulhumberstone.co.uk/ or on 01423 880 291.
I really concur with Paul’s comments about the lack of youngsters coming through which is quite astonishing really.
UK is unique in it’s desire for taking the old and making it work in the modern context and perhaps the challenge is for higher education to really get behind vocational courses for all age-groups.
Lovely work too Paul.
Nick Garrett
Sign writer London