Question 1

What is hand-painted signwriting?

Accepted Answer

Hand-painted signwriting is the traditional craft of applying lettering, logos, and decorative artwork directly to surfaces using specialist brushes and signwriting paints. Unlike printed vinyl or digital graphics, every hand-painted sign is made by a person, by hand, on the actual surface — which means no two are exactly alike, and every one carries the warmth and character of something genuinely made. It is one of the oldest commercial art forms, and the skills involved — brush control, letter spacing, paint mixing, surface preparation — take years to develop properly.

Question 2

What's the difference between signwriting and vinyl lettering?

Accepted Answer

Vinyl lettering is cut from a sheet of adhesive film and applied to a surface. It's fast, cheap, and widely used — and it looks it. Hand-painted signwriting is applied directly to the surface with a brush, using paints mixed and laid by hand. The result is fundamentally different: richer in colour, more varied in texture, and immediately recognisable as something made rather than manufactured. Hand-painted signs also tend to age better — vinyl lifts, bubbles, and fades; good signwriting weathers in and becomes part of the surface.

Question 3

What is gilding, and how is it different from gold paint?

Accepted Answer

Gilding is the application of real metal leaf — most commonly 23 carat gold — to a prepared surface. The leaf is extraordinarily thin (around 0.1 microns) and is laid onto a specialist adhesive called size, then burnished or sealed depending on the application. The result reflects light the way no paint can: it shifts and shimmers with the angle of view in a way that is unmistakably different from anything that comes out of a tin. Gold paint contains metallic pigment suspended in a binder; it looks flat and slightly brassy next to real leaf. For anything that needs to look genuinely precious — glass gilding, shop front lettering, interior decorative work — real leaf is the only option.

Question 4

What is reverse glass gilding?

Accepted Answer

Reverse glass gilding is a technique where gold leaf is applied to the back surface of a sheet of glass, so that it is viewed through the glass from the front. The glass acts as a protective layer and gives the gold a distinctive luminous quality — deeper and more reflective than surface gilding. It is the technique used on Victorian pub mirrors, solicitors' windows, and the fanlights of Georgian townhouses, and it is one of the most visually striking things a sign can do. Delicious Signs carries out reverse glass gilding for shop windows, interior panels, mirrors, and framed pieces.

Question 5

How do I commission a sign or mural?

Accepted Answer

The best starting point is a conversation — by email, phone, or in person. Describe what you have in mind: the surface, the size, the location, the feeling you want it to give. If you have references — photos, sketches, fonts you like — bring them. If you're starting from nothing, that's fine too. From the initial conversation, a design is developed, presented for your approval, and refined until it's right. No painting begins until you're happy with the design.

Question 6

Do I need to know exactly what I want before getting in touch?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Some clients arrive with a precise brief; others arrive with a wall and a vague feeling. Both are equally good starting points. Part of the service is working out what the right design is for the job — the surface, the space, the business, the context. If you have a direction in mind, that's useful. If you don't, the consultation process will find one.

Question 7

How long does a project take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size and complexity. A small house name or number can often be completed within a week. Most standard signwriting commissions — a shop front, a window design, a hanging board — are completed within one to three weeks from design approval. Murals vary widely depending on scale; a single feature wall might take two or three days on-site, while a large exterior mural could take one to two weeks. Realistic timelines are discussed at the consultation stage. For time-sensitive projects, it's always worth asking — rush commissions can sometimes be accommodated.

Question 8

Do you work outside London?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Delicious Signs is based in Hackney, East London, and works regularly across London and into Hertfordshire and Essex. Projects further afield are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on scale and logistics. Travel costs are discussed transparently as part of the quote. Previous commissions have included work for clients in various locations across the South East.

Question 9

What areas of London do you cover?

Accepted Answer

Delicious Signs works across London, with particular familiarity with East London — Hackney, Walthamstow, Leyton, Stratford — as well as Central London, Islington, Farringdon, and the City. Previous clients have included businesses in Hackney, Islington, and across East and Central London, including NHS Barts Health, Islington Council, EartH Hackney, and RIBA.

Question 10

How much does a hand-painted sign cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on the size, complexity, surface, and location of the work. As a rough guide: personalised house names and numbers start from around £150; small painted panels and individual letters from around £100; shop front signage is typically quoted from £400 upwards depending on size and content; murals are quoted individually based on scale and design. Gilding carries a premium reflecting both the cost of the materials and the skill required. All pricing is discussed upfront, with a written quote provided before any work is confirmed.

Question 11

What is included in the price?

Accepted Answer

The quoted price covers materials, painting, and the processing of the artwork. Custom design of lettering, logos, and pictorial elements and sign fabrication are costed separately. For on-site work, travel within London is included or quoted transparently.

Question 12

Do you require a deposit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A deposit is required to confirm a commission and begin the design process. The balance is due on completion. The exact terms are discussed at the point of booking.

Question 13

What surfaces can you paint on?

Accepted Answer

Almost any surface can be painted given the right preparation and paint system. Delicious Signs regularly works on glass, brick, render, timber, steel, marine ply, MDF, canvas, stone, and plaster. Unusual or difficult surfaces are assessed individually — if another painter has turned down a job because of the surface, it's worth getting in touch. Very few surfaces are genuinely unpaintable.

Question 14

Can you paint on the outside of a building?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Exterior painting is a significant part of the work at Delicious Signs. Exterior paints are selected for weather resistance and UV stability, and surfaces are prepared properly — cleaned, primed, and built up — before any decorative work is applied. Exterior signage is also topcoated for protection. Done properly, exterior hand-painted signs are highly durable and will outlast most printed alternatives.

Question 15

Can you paint canal boats and narrowboats?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and this is one of the specialisms at Delicious Signs. Adam lives aboard a traditional narrowboat on the River Lea in East London and has extensive hands-on experience with canal boat lettering, name painting, and decorative canal boat signage in the traditional style. Work includes name lettering, decorative panels, scrollwork, and full livery in the classic narrowboat tradition.

Question 16

Can you restore or renovate an existing sign?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Restoration and renovation work ranges from minor touch-ups and repainting faded areas to full restoration of historic or heavily damaged signs. This includes matching original colours, completing missing or illegible letters, re-gilding worn gold leaf, and consolidating surfaces that have deteriorated. If you have a sign worth saving, get in touch with photographs and a description of its condition.

Question 17

Who is behind Delicious Signs?

Accepted Answer

Delicious Signs is the work of Adam Makowiecki, a professional signwriter and mural painter based in East London. Adam has been working as a signwriter since 2017 and trained with some of the leading practitioners in the field: Paul Myerscough at The Signpainter's Academy, Joby Carter of Carter's Steam Fair, and Ged Palmer of The Luminor Sign Co. His work spans traditional signwriting, gold leaf gilding, large-scale murals, and bespoke decorative painting for businesses and private clients.

Question 18

Where is Delicious Signs based?

Accepted Answer

Delicious Signs is based at ACME Studios, Matchmakers Wharf, Hackney, East London — E9 5GP. The studio is located on the River Lea. On-site work is carried out at client locations across London and beyond; some smaller commissions (plaques, panels, boards) are produced in the studio and delivered or collected.

Question 19

What kind of clients does Delicious Signs work with?

Accepted Answer

Delicious Signs works with a wide range of clients — from independent local businesses and hospitality venues to large organisations and private individuals. Previous clients include NHS Barts Health, RIBA, Islington Council, EartH Hackney, and Dulux, as well as numerous independent shops, cafés, pubs, and residential clients across London.

Delicious Signs – FAQ

About the Craft

Working with Delicious Signs

Pricing and process

Surfaces and Applications

About Adam Makowiecki

SATISFIED CLIENTS

© Copyright - Delicious Signs
Delicious Signs, ACME Studios, Matchmakers Wharf, London E9 5GP
Tel: +44 7772 604712