I started this project with the desire to create an aged traditional shop sign, made with tiles. First I needed to find a good reference image to work from, which is where I stumbled across Galkoff’s Butcher Shop, a well loved Kosher Butcher in the heart of Liverpool.

This was a quick project I did to try out some ageing techniques. I used a scrap piece of wood I’d had in the studio from an old project and made a simple design I wouldn’t be too precious about.

I set myself the challenge to create an Eighteenth-century American Cobbler trade sign. I wanted to explore the story behind the sign and put some of the skills I’d learnt at the Scenic Painters course to use. I find the process fascinating and here I will share some of it with you!

Pre-twentieth century trade signs have a magical quality to them. The form and shape would often display the meaning of the sign itself, with no words required.