Signs of the Times

Walk down any typical high street in Scotland today and you will no doubt notice the overwhelming number of signs vying for your attention with their gaudy colours and eye-catching fonts. It wasn’t always this way, however. Photographs of town centres that pre-date the availability of cheaply printed signage depict beautifully painted shops decorated by skilled signwriters who used a limited number of lettering styles and traditional techniques to present basic information about a building’s occupants.

Our high streets are constantly evolving and recently there has been an increase in the number of independent businesses occupying premises vacated by chain retailers, banks and other companies that are choosing to focus on their online presence. These local boutiques, barbers, beauty salons, cafés and restaurants are more likely to invest in quality signage that reflects the values of their brand in order to make a good first impression on customers. That means more work for the small community of signwriters who continue to practice a trade that often goes unnoticed but can have a powerful subliminal appeal.