Acanthus leaves can be challenging to illustrate on a calligraphy commission, but they’re so beautiful and they really add to a piece! I’ve been emailing about these today, in discussions about a poem in calligraphy to celebrate someone’s life. I wanted to show how fabulous a more detailed acanthus leaf can look on a navy …
The loveliest email landed in my inbox, after Françoise’s mum’s 80th birthday party last week! With just a week to create something really special, Françoise commissioned me to write several calligraphy pieces for her event. Using emerald green G.F. Smith paper and Winsor & Newton gold gouache, I wrote calligraphy place names for all the …
It’s a scarily big step to go from practising calligraphy at home to showing to people – and getting your first ‘wow’ from a friend or a client. One of my lovely calligraphy students just told me she has a 90 day goal of getting a first calligraphy client – which makes me so proud! …
Read more “Getting your calligraphy out there – a weekly challenge!”
Almost a year ago I had an email from another calligrapher who’d seen my gold leaf name on Etsy. She asked how it was done – it’s tricky to add gilding to anything so fine. I’ll be teaching a calligraphy workshop in Coniston (in the Lake District) on the 21st of March and I decided …
Read more “How to write your name in 22 carat gold calligraphy”
With less than nine weeks until Christmas, we’re busy making plans and stocking up (pun not intended!) on gift tags and calligraphy kits for the festive season! I’ve been working on some exercises for those of you learning calligraphy, and shared this Christmas card design on my social media. I love it because it’s deceptively easy …
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In my years as a professional calligrapher I’ve written hundreds of family trees – mainly via my Not On The High Street store, where I sell small format, modern family trees with hand calligraphy. These are wonderful Christmas gift ideas with a very special personal touch – it’s coming up to busy season and I …
Read more “Family tree calligraphy – bespoke family trees available in the UK and worldwide”
One of the best things about having a creative business is the opportunities to share and swap! I’ve been lucky to meet amazing creative people across Cumbria. Last week I went to see my friends Jen & Ed’s cafe Wolf & Us at Wolfhouse in Silverdale, and to write some signs and menus for them. …
Chalkboards, blackboards – my memories from school are very different from the art I see on Pinterest and Insta nowadays! Not only has their name changed – is ‘chalkboard’ an American thing? a wedding thing? – but their purpose has too. Chalkboards now are for welcoming guests to your wedding, for displaying your seating plan …