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Signwriter

  • Hours

    35-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    Variable

Signwriting is a traditional craft, used to produce hand-painted signs for places like historic buildings, fairgrounds and pubs, and also on classic vehicles and boats. If you have creativity and good drawing skills, this job could suit you well.

In this job you will also need to have good spelling and grammar. You will need to know a range of lettering styles.

You don't need any specific qualifications to get into this job. However, you may have an advantage if you have a qualification in a subject like art and design, design and technology, or graphic design.

You will need normal colour vision.



The work

As a signwriter, your work would typically include:

  • preparing and laying out designs and lettering
  • measuring and calculating letter size
  • preparing surfaces
  • applying paint backgrounds by brush, spray or roller
  • tracing designs onto the wood, metal or glass
  • hand-painting designs and lettering using special brushes, enamel paint and gold leaf
  • repainting and retouching signs on site.

You would use traditional techniques and materials, including wood, metal and glass, and specialised paints and varnishes.


Hours

You would usually work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You may work evenings and weekends in some jobs.

You would be based in a workshop or studio, but may also do installation and repainting outdoors. Your work may involve some manual lifting and working at heights.


Income

As signwriters are usually self-employed, their earnings can vary greatly, depending on demand and on their success in marketing their services.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

There are no set qualifications for becoming a signwriter, although you may have an advantage if you have GCSEs or similar qualifications in subjects such as art or design and technology.

You could also specialise in signwriting after completing a BTEC HNC/HND in graphic design.

You will need normal colour vision.


Training and development

You may be able to find a signwriter who is willing to train you. Your training would normally be on-the-job. You could develop your skills by taking part-time courses in graphic design.

Some traditional signwriters offer short courses in specific skills, such as gold leaf gilding.


Skills and knowledge

To be a signwriter you should have:

  • drawing skills
  • creative flair
  • knowledge of lettering styles
  • accuracy and attention to detail
  • good spelling and grammar
  • computer skills
  • understanding of traditional and modern methods of producing signs
  • good practical skills.

More information

British Sign and Graphics Association (Opens new window)
5 Orton Enterprise Centre
Bakewell Road
Orton Southgate
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE2 6XU
Tel: 01733 230033
www.bsga.co.uk

Creative and Cultural Skills (Opens new window)
Lafone House
The Leathermarket
Weston Street
London
SE1 3HN
www.creative-choices.co.uk


Opportunities

Demand for traditional signwriting skills has been declining for a number of years, and not many traditional signwriters remain. However, a few shops still have hand-painted signs, and there is some demand for traditional signs from TV, film and theatre.

If you want to specialise in this field, you will probably have to be self-employed.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The craft industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: cultural heritage; design; literature; music; performing arts; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.

The craft industry comprises individual designer makers and small businesses from a diverse range of disciplines spanning the contemporary, traditional and heritage spectrum. Designer‐made traditional and contemporary craft covers a wide range of individual disciplines including:

  • basket‐making
  • bookbinding
  • candle‐making
  • ceramics
  • fashion accessories
  • furniture
  • glass
  • jewellery
  • leather working
  • lettering and calligraphy
  • metal working
  • mosaic
  • musical instrument making
  • recycled textiles
  • stone carving
  • taxidermy
  • textiles
  • toys and automata
  • wood turning and sculpture
  • heritage and traditional crafts
  • paper crafts

Key facts:

  • There are 88,250 people working in the craft industry, of which:
    • 37% work in graphic crafts
    • 15% textiles
    • 13% jewellery
    • 8% heritage and rural crafts
    • 8% potter and ceramics
    • 7% stone
    • 5% iron and metals
    • 5% wood
    • 2% glass
    • Less than 1% taxidermist
  • There are 13,060 businesses, of which 98% employ less than 50 people.
  • Craft contributes £2.9 billion to the UK economy.
  • 37% of the craft workforce is self‐employed, 21% work part‐time.
  • Women in the industry are generally more highly qualified than men (43% have an above level 4 qualification as their highest qualification compared with 27% of men).
  • Women are likely to earn less money than men (67% of women in craft earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to 50% of men).
  • The industry is made up of a large number of makers operating in the same, small and localised market places.
  • 33% of those working in craft have at least a level 4 qualification.

Jobs in the industry include: blacksmith, engraver, gemmologist, glassmaker, hair makeup and wigs, heritage and historical skills, illustrator, joiner and cabinet maker, leatherworker, musical instrument maker, potter, sculptor, stone mason, toymaker, and woodworker.


National and regional data

Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. Craft in Northern Ireland contributes £39.9 million to the UK economy. 2% of the UK craft workforce is located in Northern Ireland. 99% of the craft workforce is white and 72% of the workforce is male. 30% of the craft workforce in Northern Ireland is self‐employed.

Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 6% of the UK craft workforce is located in Scotland. Craft in Scotland contributes £131 million to the UK economy. 99% of the craft workforce is white and 63% of the workforce is male. 36% of the craft workforce in Scotland is self‐employed.

Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 4% of the UK craft workforce is located in Wales. Craft in Wales contributes £73 million to the UK economy. 99% of the workforce is white and 68% of the workforce is male. 36% of the Welsh craft workforce is self‐employed.

[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]

East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.

East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.

North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.

North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.

South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.

South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.


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