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David Adrian Smith

David Adrian Smith Sign-writer
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Reverse glass sign painter

  • • David’s craft is considered in danger of extinction
  • • He has trained thousands of aspiring sign writers
  • • Amongst his many masterpieces is a cover for a John Mayer record

David Adrian Smith, Dave to his friends, works and lives in a large house turned workshop surrounded by his own team of women. It is here, under the gaze of his wife and daughters, that the marvellous glass signs, reminiscent of the Victorian era that David has been making for over 30 years come to life. A career that began at a very young age and a bit by chance, thanks to a family friend who, knowing the boy's passion for drawing, suggested he create a hotel sign. “I was 13 years old, I took such pleasure in it that I decided that this would be my job. Three years later I was already quite famous in Torquay, the town where my parents had come to live, for the writings I made on cars and commercial vans,” he explains. Today, David is considered a superstar around the world when it comes to the art of reverse glass sign writing.

Read the full interview

Works

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Jameson Whiskey

This ornate embossed, gilded and silvered reverse painted glass sign, was handcrafted for the famous whiskey company Jameson, Dublin, Ireland. Commissioned for the 2012 celebration of St Patrick's Day in Ireland, a multitude of traditional techniques were used to create the sign including white acid French embossing, deep etching and brilliant cutting using stone wheels.

Height 120 cm
Width 100 cm

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Craftsmanship gold leaf glass sign

This handcrafted acid etched and hand etched reverse gold leaf sign was commissioned by and made for the Heritage Crafts Association in 2019.

Height 240 cm
Width 61 cm

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Ludlow and Blunt, Brooklyn

David Adrian Smith used over 15 different techniques of reverse glass processes to finish this detailed hand etched glass sign. These included brilliant cutting, acid etching, deep etching and oil gilding. The sign has been decorated with various emblematic landmarks seen from Brooklyn, New York.

Height 150 cm
Width 120 cm

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Ludlow and Blunt, Brooklyn

David Adrian Smith used over 15 different techniques of reverse glass processing, including brilliant cutting, acid etching, deep etching and oil gilding to create this custom made engraved glass sign.

Height 150 cm
Width 120 cm

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Kings Avenue Tattoo, New York

This hand lettered and gilded glass advertising sign was made for a tattoo artist’s studio in New York. The work includes a variety of techniques including water gilding, acid etching, brilliant cutting, abalone inlay and oil gilding. Various transparent shades and blending was used to create the effect of the letters popping off the glass the process is known as Trompe-l’oeil in reverse..

Height 70 cm
Width 45 cm

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