Sign Flu

Macaroons AGAIN...

2012-02-01T02:25:00.001-08:00

Treasure Stokes Croft...

2012-02-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

This is a sign I did aaaaages ago, but they've only recently relocated to this new shop around the corner - the sign's a little bit dwarfed by the size of the fascia, but it still looks okay.

DEATH METAL PIZZA

2012-02-01T02:20:00.000-08:00

Hoek's Death Metal Pizza - I had to take this box back with me when we stopped by their in Austin, Texas, the year before last - the pizza is great, and it's the only place I've ever been able to truly enjoy Death Metal. In the background is one of my first experiments with gold leaf.

Progress picture...

2012-01-26T05:10:00.000-08:00

So it turns out jigsawing a company logo isn't so easy with one arm trussed up in - albeit attractive - fluoro pink plaster. `I've never broken a sodding bone in my life before, until within about 24 hours of my flight to Austria for a skiing trip with my wife and her folks (I married well), I slipped arse over tit over a bollard whilst walking the mutt. I flew out there anyway, but just did the whole apres bit without the activity bit for a week.

Blackboards outside Patisserie Leila

2012-01-26T05:02:00.000-08:00

Upping sticks and getting outta here...

2012-01-26T04:56:00.000-08:00

I'm finally getting out of my old shop in Hamilton House, Bristol, and moving all the way up the road to Bath Buildings (about a three-minute walk). I've enjoyed my time there with the hippies, but I need a bit more space and better access. We are also currently going under something of a re-branding, with new workshop, new website and new company name which should all be ready soon for an aesthetically pleasing transition!

I'll be sharing with my cousin Dylan Humphries, a guitar luthier - check out his spiky axes here.

Apologies to your eyes for the trouser-less schmuck (Dylan) in the new space.

The Biblos Baggins adventure continues...

2012-01-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

OMG WTF LOT ETC...

2012-01-16T01:38:00.000-08:00

Did this in collaboration with turbo couture baron Christian Taylor of Uno One Print. Did I mention that it's GLOW IN THE DARK?

Get 'em here.

2012-01-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

The fantastic new Traditional Sign Maker Magazine has an interview with fellow Pre-Vinylite brother of the brush Josh Luke of Best Dressed Signs, Boston. You can read it here.
Below is a piece of his from earlier last year...

Roller Derby lid I painted for my sis Flo

2012-01-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

Huffington Post article...

2012-01-02T03:43:00.000-08:00

Click here to read a great article in The Huffington Post all about The Vinyl Apocalypse and it's affect on the signs around us and the appearance of our high streets by Deborah Dooley, featuring yours truly.

Stag & Hounds, Old Market, Bristol

2011-12-20T12:03:00.000-08:00

Did this sign for The Stag & Hounds in Old Market, Brizzle. 'Ere's a bit of extra historical info regarding the site: Pie Poudre is from the French, pied poudres, or dusty feet. A vagabond is called in French pied poudreux. The Pie Poudre courts were an offshoot of the Tolzey or Sheriff's Court and the one at the Stag and Hounds is associated with the September fair in Old Market. It was originally presided over by the Steward of the Tolzey Court until 1835 when the Recorder of Bristol took over. The opening of the court gradually became a cause for drunken festivities and it was suppressed in 1870. The annual proclamation was still read outside the Stag and Hounds until 1973.

Reverse gilding

2011-12-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

Did this bit of 23 carat bling for my friend Mary's new gaff in Montpelier, Bristol. Just need to paint that nasty pink window frame and get a new door blah blah details details etc

More macaroons....

2011-12-20T00:18:00.000-08:00

The last one got half inched outside of Patisserie Leila, Stokes Croft. Now, I'm not one to judge, buuuut,

I'm fairly sure it was definitely students, oh yes. Well, at least they know good art when they see it...

Open dusk til dawn...

2011-12-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

So I just finished these two tasteful birdboxes for Chris Packham ('im off the telly) - The Nelson's a christmas present for his pops - all boxed and ready which he picked up today. That's 23 carat gold on the Nelson - any custom flourishes are possible - just ask!

2011-11-24T12:07:00.000-08:00

Table top sign I took for my stall at Rollerburn last Saturday

Pavement sign for Pepenero's...

2011-11-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

Picture taken on my crappy phone camera, sowwy

Pepenero's, Bristol

2011-11-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

So the other week when they were doing this place up before it opened last Saturday - I was sat on my arse by myself, painting all these Italian words on the counter, listening to Hank Williams and getting high on One Shot paint fumes. At about midday, I needed to stretch my limbs (and inhale some oxygen) so got up and all I could see from the counter through the window on to the street was police crime scene tape surrounding the building, where a man had apparently had his throat slashed only twenty minutes earlier, which was nice. I'd be a shit witness.
This place does great calzones, though.

On a wing and a prayer

2011-11-21T01:22:00.000-08:00

I am currently taking orders for birdhouses - as well as these tasteful beauties that you see on your screen, I can custom make them to your (or actually, your birds') requirements - any colour, design, words etc. AND for a limited time only, each birdbox ordered before the 20th December comes with a free jacuzzi.

Rich in shits and giggles

2011-11-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

I will be holding a stall doing lettering and pinstriping on whatever items that folks want to bring me this saturday. Expect lots of tough girls in rollerskates and loads of bikes. Erm, can you say Wank Fantasy?

23 carat gold leaf

2011-11-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

Did this last week for a mate's girlfriend Naomi's birthday - she goes by the DJ handle Niami Nice - seemed only right to lay a bit of the nice and shiny stuff over it. I finished it in the studio on Saturday evening (I can often be found rock and rolling it getting high on paint fumes by myself of a weekend evening) under the strip lights there. But when I came back in the next morning to give it a lick of varnish, the sunlight was sneaking in through the window and the gold leaf was twinkling a treat - something that you'll never be able to get with paint or vinyl.

Pre-vinylite brotherhood

2011-11-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

Talented Sign Painter Josh Luke of Best Dressed Signs, Boston is putting together a show which promises to be a stormer - the names on the list read like a who's who of first class paint slingers from over the pond - if you're in the area - GO THERE!!!

Cyril's....

2011-11-04T01:51:00.000-07:00

Did a bunch of signs for this sitcom thingy that has just started on Sky 1 a while back in the early summer - if you keep 'em peeled, you can spot the Cyril's signs above The Cafe that were amongst the load that I did. They were loads of fun, as the main of the brief was 'seaside tacky', which, is pretty much me down to a tee.

Zazu's Kitchen...

2011-10-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

Zazu's kitchen, of Stokes Croft is re-locating up to The Mall in Clifton - I asked Toby the manager why they're leaving, to which he replied, "I'm sick of blood and broken windows." Faiiirrrr enough.

My Beautiful Laundrette opening...

2011-10-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Amber took over the laundrette (or launderette if you're a picky shit) on Mina rd, in St Werburghs, Bristol to hold an exhibition of some of her screenprints and illustrations. Last Friday was the launch night and a good time was had by all. Unless you were the large front window, in which case you had a shit time, cos you DIED. My mate Bacon and his heavily refreshed arse are believed to be linked to the crime.

The PVS in the corner stands for the Pre-Vinylite Society - a group of Signwriters - or Sign Painters if you're American (of which most of the group are) - and just letter junkies, all loosely affiliated but brought together by a common, non-vinyl based love of hand made signs. They're having a show in Boston next month, and I wish this job would pay me more so I can go out to see it.

Please ignore all the penis graffitti on my drawing board. Ta.

2011-10-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

Original Rough sketch

Pounce pattern - the design is drawn at full size on pattern paper, and then the outlines are perforated. The drawing is then placed upon the signboards and pounce powder (chalk powder) is dusted over it, leaving an outline to guide your paintbrush.

Boards with pounce pattern dusted on.

Sometimes you got to sketch straight on too.

Wilma, satisfied that the offensive graffitti has finally been painted over and ready to install the sign.

Menu board for Biblos, Stokes Croft

2011-10-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Of course, they wait until the job's done to make price amendments with some good ol' sticky labels (see bottom left.

Le Monde...FIN!

2011-10-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

Le Monde, Cardiff

2011-09-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Royal treat...

2011-09-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

Did this pen and ink royal wank fantasy a few years ago, but Bristol label Drawn Recordings do a zine and they've put it in as an upmarket centre-fold.

2011-09-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Three of these big ol' bastards to do

Macaroons at Patisserie Leila, Stokes Croft...

2011-09-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

So I stole a typeface from Mike Giant for the use of advertising a local patisserie's Macaroon deal. Deal with it.

SHIT-KICKING HAT

2011-09-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

So I ordered this to go with my wedding suit, back in June, but I missed the delivery on account of my then being balls deep in a world of work, so it remained at the depot for a couple moments too long before being sent back to Alabama. *Sigh* so I paid another thirty sobs to have it re-delivered and then when it does arrive this time, I've got a customs bill of twenty nine quid on top. Turned out to be quite a pricey hat after all, but it sure as Hell looks good (check out the tag next to it as well!).

If you just half close your eyes...

2011-09-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Maitreya swing sign - installed

2011-09-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Maitreya Social

2011-09-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

Swanky veggie restaurant Maitreya Social opening this wednesday on St Marks road, Easton - where swanky veggie restaurant Cafe Maitreya was until last week. I discovered on Saturday, that being catastrophically hungover and climbing ladders to paint letters is not the mostest mega-est ace idea. Luckily, it turned out okay...

The Canteen

2011-08-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here's September's copy of the programme for The Canteen down at Stokes Croft...as you can see, I thought I'd go for a slightly low-key, quiet number.

Patisserie Leila, Stokes Croft

2011-08-29T03:31:00.000-07:00

A nice chappy called Yoshi came and took a couple of snaps the other day as I wobbled gently on a not so kosher scaff tower. You can see more of his stuff at http://sc-world.tumblr.com/

Gandalf eat yer heart out...

2011-08-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

Just got sent this pic by magician Rob James, of him in action with a Stroop Test board I lettered for him a couple of months ago...

Howdy fuckers...

2011-07-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

...and sorry for the wholesale lack of stuff of late, sportsfans - I've been over yonder getting married, going to Glasto, honeymooning in Turkey, eating lots of kebabs, talking about divorce, watching turtles and being soppy and in love. The above pic was sent by the lovely Gemma Randall, Art Director of upcoming telly show The Cafe. I will post more stuff soon, ta-ta!

The Cafe

2011-06-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of interweb activity of late, I've been seriously busy making a load of signs to a hectic deadline for a new sitcom that they're filming in sunny and glamorous Weston Super Mare. Apologies for the crappy phone camera pics - I will be getting some decent pics of all of the signs very soon...

This one's been deliberately weathered so that it looks like it's been there about 30 years or so

The Stroop Effect...

2011-04-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

Just did this for magician Rob James. There I was thinking that the said effect was just an unfortunate side-effect of a good night out, it's actually much more like this.

Das Milch

2011-04-29T00:25:00.000-07:00

Human chew

2011-04-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

My mate Tim did himself a mischief on his bike a couple of weeks ago and broke his thumb. Resting said digit from basic hygeine because of the cast, has resulted in a gamey, slightly cheesy funk emitting from the top and - I've not dared to check myself - smells horrific. Luckily, my dog Wilma loves that sort of shit, and tucked right in.

Biblos Baggins the Lebanese hobbit...

2011-04-17T12:26:00.002-07:00

Aaaaaand they are not chilli plants, kah-peeeesh?

Going to the Chapel and we're / gonna get ma-ah-ar-ried...

2011-04-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

This lovely poster is from me and my darling's wedding invitation - as you can see, we went fairly trad. This isn't an open invite to you lovely internetters however, I just wanted to show off my photoshop fiddlings.

Lettering for choc shop, St.Nicks Market...

2011-04-04T01:58:00.000-07:00

Please forgive the crappy phone pics, but you get the idea. I didn't try the Italian sipping chocolate, but I've got it on good authority that they are richer than a Butcher's turd (that's a good thing, by the way).

www.abarof.co.uk

2011-04-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

Sideburn Magazine Tee shirt...

2011-03-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

The nice chappies at Sideburn Magazine asked me to do a logo of their mag in the style of legendary racer Eddie Lawson's clobber. Go check 'em out, they are cooler than eskimo pussy.

The Bank of Stokes Croft...

2011-02-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

...do great pizzas, seriously

www.thebankofstokescroft.com

Do'Lii Cafe...

2011-02-17T09:26:00.000-08:00

Just a re-jigged A-Board for the rather strangely named Do'Lii Cafe up on Cheltenham rd. Oh yeah, and don't ask me what a Loose Tea Pig is, either.

Treasure Stokes Croft...

2011-02-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

New charidee shop up Stokes Croft next to Sofa Riot - it's just opened and is reputed to be abundant with all sorts of wonderful trinkets and curious nick-nacks (what exactly the fuck is a nick-nack, by the way? Answers to the usual address...) - go check 'em out! I'll be sticking this sucker up tomorrow...

New A board for out the front...

2011-01-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

Thought it was time to get something fresh for out on the street. If anyone has any taste out there, I should be inundated with work, right? RIGHT?

I'm....so...hungry...

The Folk House Cafe...

2011-01-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

Howdy sports fans, sorry I've taken my jimmy time to post anything of late - a little shabby, I know. Take comfort from the fact that I've fired several people from admin. HERE'S TO 2011!

www.folkhousecafe.co.uk

Pie & Mash

2010-12-21T12:35:00.001-08:00

Maybe he's born with it...

2010-12-21T12:33:00.001-08:00

(Bird) HOUSING CRISIS AT AN END...

2010-12-08T11:03:00.001-08:00

If indeed there ever was one in the first place.

Each box has pre-drilled holes in the back for mounting and drainage holes in the bottom to keep the feathered occupants inside dry.

All these will be for sale at some of the Christmas markets in Bristol over the next couple of weekends. If you're interested, drop me an email!

HOOTERS!

2010-12-08T11:02:00.001-08:00

With tasteful red LEDs set thoughtfully in the front (see post above this one for the lights on).

2010-12-08T11:01:00.001-08:00

GOING CHEEP!

2010-12-08T11:00:00.001-08:00

Drop me a line...I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD PRICE!

LADIES OF THE NIGHTingale...

2010-12-04T08:47:00.001-08:00

Boozy tits...

2010-12-02T09:42:00.001-08:00

CHRIST ALMIGHTY...

2010-11-29T17:27:00.001-08:00

Upmarket birds...

2010-11-22T10:08:00.001-08:00

Birds of Prayer...

2010-11-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

ACHTUNG!

2010-11-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

I did this a good while ago now, but only just got a photo of it. You can find this polite notice just by the bogs at the Canteen in Bristol

MTV cribs...for birds or summink

2010-11-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

Also coming up in the birdhouse range will be Goldfinch Jewellery, Fight or Flight Boxing Gym, a church( for Birds of Prayer)...and more! These will all be for sale, people, so getcha self a hand-made, hand-painted one-off birdhouse for the birds in, err, your life. GOING CHEEP! Sorry.

Also, any other cheap ornithilogical punnage greatly welcome. In particular, the name for a gay bar. The best I've come up with so far, is the Tool Nest.

Biblos Mezze Bar

2010-11-10T03:27:00.000-08:00

For cheap and delicious meaty treats, go to...

R.I.P Shiv

2010-10-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Striped and lettered this guitar for a charity auction for our friend Shiv who was killed on her bicycle earlier this year. The guitar itself was a bit of a dog, but they managed to raise 300 quid for it! I think she'd be proud.

Off to the US of A....

2010-08-22T01:14:00.000-07:00

...so won't be posting up any bits of work, let alone actually doing any until I get back early October. If you have any enquiries though - email me on giftedyoungman@gmail.com - and hopefully I will find somewhere with internets and get back to you asap.

ch ch ch CIAO!

Oooohhhh yeeeeaaaahhhhh..

2010-08-19T02:21:00.000-07:00

...handy screen-printing chappy and all-round sexy bastard Christian from uno one has done me a load of these beauties. Screen-printed and hand-cut, they feel and look fackin great.

In action at Boomtown...

2010-08-17T16:12:00.001-07:00

Hanging sign for sweetie shop up Gloucester rd

2010-08-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Devil Kicks Dancehall...

2010-08-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is for a big rockabilly night's marquee at a festival - Boomtown Fair - this weekend.

All 100% hand-drawn, hand-cut and hand-painted. Absolutely no computers were used during this, and only one pony was killed.

Yours truly....

2010-07-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Found this photo from a few months ago - there was a fashion market (Christ knows what I was doing there, then) and I did a spot of painting stuff, selling painted stuff, drinking lots of coffee and hiring out niche pornographic DVDs from Turkmenistan. Okay, not the last bit. They were all on VHS.

Anyway, I found this on my mate Christian's website - http://www.unooneprint.com/ - screenprinter who has the dubious fortune of having a studio near mine.

The Fringe, Cheltenham rd...

2010-07-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

I just completed this A-board for a swanky new barbers up the road

Maybe she's born with it...

2010-07-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

...or maybe it's Mabelline? You decide. I can't tell, I just to the signage.

2010-07-14T02:39:00.000-07:00

Puppets and Pandemonium van

2010-07-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is my buddy Alex's slightly ratty, but well-loved transit van - you may see him scaring children with his amazing puppets at a festival near you soon...

http://www.puppetsandpandemonium.co.uk/

Pronto Coffee up Gloucester rd...

2010-07-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Architectural offices up in Clifton...

2010-06-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

This was a restoration job - the number on the right pillar was still there - albeit barely visible - so I had to trace it before painting it in order to transfer the design on to the left pillar. Just read that back to myself and I'm not sure if it makes sense. Oh well. The whole thing was like painting on sandpaper, which was less than a laugh, but hey, I was out in the sun, and lord knows I need some tan time.

2010-06-21T07:33:00.001-07:00

The boys...

2010-06-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

...circa 1915...

FUH-KING COOOOOOOOL

The Station...coming soon

2010-06-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Sliiiight modification...

2010-06-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the chap who comissioned me to do the Red Tractor Lager tap badge said 'do what you like, just make sure there's a red tractor in it', but his boss called about a day later explaining that he shouldn't have said that, and that they're after a slightly more chilled out, low alcohol kind of tip. So no cyclops, wheel spins and flames then, I suppose. Aaaand here's the new, slower and mellower badge...

Tap badge...

2010-06-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

...for a new boozer in town

Job in progress...

2010-06-02T23:59:00.001-07:00

Cool...

2010-05-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

This was a comission - they said 'do what you want', hence me doing what I want - see below

2010-05-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

New chocolate shop in St Nicks Market, Bristol

2010-05-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Opening in a couple of weeks...http://www.abarof.co.uk/

One more for the Royce Rolls...

2010-05-05T10:08:00.001-07:00

Kicks n Canvas

2010-04-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

I was asked to stick the lovely 'Talula' in the front window of a show called 'Kicks n Canvas' in Shoreditch by Zero Cool Gallery (http://www.zerocoolgallery.com/) a couple of weeks ago. Here's a video of the launch night :

Virulant signage...

2010-04-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

This lil' beaute can be spied outside Hamilton House on Stokes Croft arguing with pigeons, fighting bins, crying into the arms of vulnerable adults and other such popular local pursuits. SAFE!

Head Independent Record Shop

2010-04-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

Down in lovely Broadmead in Bristol. My mate Phil did the skulls, I did the texty wext.

New signage for Royce Rolls...

2010-04-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

So I actually got round to sampling one of their famous rolls, and they were actually not that bad at all, despite the lack of dead animal in them.

SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SMOKE NO EVIL MOTHERFUCKEERRRSSS

2010-04-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

This lil' mama comes in at about 6 foot and will be for sale at the new independent record shop, Head, in Broadmead, Bristol

2010-04-01T09:07:00.001-07:00

2010-03-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

Free booze is to mates what flies are to shit...

2010-03-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

...So the evening was a complete success and lots of people turned up for the opening night (thank Gawd), and there were even people I didn't recognise, which was encouraging. All the pieces will be up for a month at Donuts (http://www.donutsthestore.co.uk/) and are all for sale at credit crunchy prices, so get 'em while they're hot!

OPENING NIGHT IS FRIDAY 12TH MARCH!!!

2010-02-16T02:36:00.001-08:00

There will be beer, there will be music, there will be skateboards, there will be toilet seats, and hopefully there will be you (if you know what's good for you). Come along for the best friday evening of mid-March so far this year! Scroll downwards for a couple of examples of stuff that will be on display and for sale. LOADS MORE ON THE NIGHT - BE THERE!

Please, I'm poor.