Have you ever stopped to admire the traditional lettering on a canal boat, a fairground ride or an old pub like The Farmer’s Arms? Spend a mindful and fun day learning the art and craft of traditional sign writing by hand, with expert Beccy Roberts.
This full day course will teach you the basic skills of brush sign writing, equipping you with the techniques you need to make beautiful, hand-painted lettering.
We will start by making our own ‘maul' or ‘mahl’ stick - the famous ‘resting’ tool that steadies the painting hand - before learning about the traditional paints and writing styles which form the basis of the art of the sign writer. Beccy will share tricks of the trade learnt from her four decades as a sign writer working across the UK and Europe and there will be plenty of one to one tuition in our small group.Tea / coffee provided at the end of the workshop.
You are welcome to bring a packed lunch or buy lunch on site.
All workshop materials and tools are included in the fee.
And if all things craft are your thing why not sign up to our weekend Social Clay Festival which starts at 6:00pm on the same day (29th August) and is totally jam packed with crafting, see the separate listing on Eventbrite: Social Clay Festival 2025 Tickets, Fri, Aug 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite.
About Beccy RobertsArtisan signwriter Beccy has worked as a successful self-employed signwriter, sign painter & commercial fine artist for over forty years, contributing to several Grizedale Arts projects over the last decade. With the rise of digital signage in the early noughties, the age-old artisanal traditions of the signwriter fell out of favour, and Beccy found herself working mainly for the canal and houseboat communities, where hand painted finishes have remained in demand. Over the last decade however appreciation of the art of sign writing has reinvigorated, and Beccy has been busier than ever, teaching to a younger generation and creating beautiful signs for a wide array of clientele.You can see Beccy’s work locally in the Coniston Institute’s main stage and hall.
Full ticket price £140. Concessionary price £125
