Skip to main content
Sign painted with gold text with open pots of paints and brushes beside it

Signwriting

Duration: Weekend course
Dates: Sat 26 Jul 10:30 - Sun 27 Jul 2025 16:30
Location: Print Studio

Learn traditional hand-lettering and create your own sign.

Learn the basics of signwriting: from brush-handling skills to illustrative work and gold-leaf or glass gilding.

This introductory course covers various brushes, paints, mahlsticks, pounce patterns and tracings, chalks, tapes, letterform layout and hand-drawing of Sans Serif, Roman and Casual Scripts. If you've been before then the tutor can help you move on to a different technique.

Fantastic! Enjoyed the signwriting course so much and will be back to do again. Brian is a legend!

I've had a great few days with Brian, who has a signwriting brain like a planet. So knowledgeable, a professional who has real joy for his craft. Thank you.

Print Studio Terms & Conditions

Please ensure you've read the Print Studio Terms & Conditions before you book.
Download
285 KB (PDF)
Yellow and green inks on shelves in DCA Print Studio

Need to know

  • What to bring

We provide everything you'll need, just bring yourself. You are welcome to bring along any inspiration, images or sketchbooks to work from.

 

  • What to wear

We'll provide aprons and gloves but recommend wearing old clothes as printmaking can be messy. Please note that open-toed footwear and sandals are not allowed.

 

  • Food & drinks

A sealed water flask or drinking vessel is permitted but other food and drinks are not allowed in the studio.

Person painting letters on a sign with yellow lettering
Photo by Erika Stevenson
Sign Up Here painted sign
Photo by DCA

Meet your tutor

Photo of Brian Robertson in DCA Print Studio holding a sign that reads'Sign painting is a skill, when developed cratft art'

Brian Robertson

Brian Robertson has been a professional Signwriter for over 50 years, starting out as a 15-year-old apprentice. From buses to buildings, he has created signs for them alongside teaching signwriting at DCA.

In partnership with Freelands Foundation

Freelands Foundation Logo