Are you keeping your calligraphy a secret?

I wonder how many of us have a hobby we do for our own artistic pleasure, and which no one ever sees. In my online workshops I make a point of framing little pieces of work – it’s very much about celebrating every small victory and seeing your own progress – but I wonder if …

Pricing for bespoke calligraphy and wedding stationery – how it works

I once worked with a wedding stationery designer who charges her clients £60 per hour for her services. She was, as her price tag suggests, something of a diva. (I’ve never seen such an impressive tantrum about couriers!) She is also the perfect example of how shockingly ‘high end’ wedding stationery can be priced. It’s …

The lost art of lettering – for business!

We are so lucky to live in the online age. We type more often than we write. Calligraphy now is an art, a skill which takes years of practice to develop to a professional level. But did you know that writing a beautiful calligraphy script was once as important to building a career – any …

wedding envelope calligraphy uk

Luxe gold ink wedding calligraphy envelope samples

Lovely Lauren asked me about gold calligraphy addressed envelopes for her wedding, and these are the samples I addressed for her this week. Some envelopes are more suitable for calligraphy than others. These are absolutely perfect – they’re a GF Smith paper stock, and work wonderfully with the gold ink. Thank you to lovely Ellie …

Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson in calligraphy

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers – Emily Dickinson

Sometimes I just like to play with my pens and inks, to write a practice piece simply because I enjoy the writing process, with no restrictions on size or letter style. This poem – always a favourite – is in a very straight (not slanted) calligraphy style. It’s ultra modern and trendy. The letters are …

calligrapher uk handwritten wedding menus

Handwritten menus on fine Italian paper

Alexandra and Christopher asked me to write their wedding invitations earlier this year: they were 100% handwritten, in black ink and a modern, elegant calligraphy style. Teamed with burgundy envelopes addressed in gold ink, they set the scene for a beautiful and elegant celebration. I was delighted to hear from Alexandra again a month before …

robert frost the road not taken

The Road Not Taken – Robert Frost

This poem is timeless, thought-provoking and simple. I’ve written it countless times, and it never fails to make me think. This is calligraphy at its best – writing out a poem is a slow process where you have to consider the shape and flow of every word. The slowness of calligraphy lettering also allows time …

From a Father – calligraphy poem commission for Fathers Day

This commission was a gift for Fathers Day – from a previous customer who I remember working with back in 2014! Lovely Sarah had tracked me down through various website changes and a house (and telephone number) move – and had an idea for a poem commission for her husband for Fathers Day. He’d written …