Gilded Shop Sign for Audio Lounge

This bespoke sign was commissioned for the newly launched Audio Lounge, 138 Wigmore St, W1, home to the world's most exquisite audio experiences.

The signature Copper Leaf gilding and navy blue painted rim were chosen to reflect the customised branding of their extremely distinctive, beautiful and often iconic products. 

Painted Paper repair

I was given a tricky job of repairing a badly torn Chines paper screen which had large gouges taken out of it whilst in storage. The tears were up to 5x 6 inches in places and the torn paper was strongly crumpled. The paintings were beautiful watercolours. However the paper was thick and heavy, like wallpaper and badly stained and browning. Also there was no access to the back so the repairs had to be made good from the front only.

In the circumstances the repairs are pretty good. There were gaps caused in the paper going back to position which I chose to gesso over the brown paper.  I then matched slowly the painted details with watercolours although it was impossible to get a flawless match because of the varying papers. The client was pleased as the screen was both functional and only on close inspection could the repairs be seen. Certainly much better than its sad sorry state when it arrived!

Restoration of A 19th Century Gilded Picture Frame

This is the condition of one of the corners, missing composite moulding and gold leaf. There were 26 repairs required on the whole frame which i repaired with traditional methods and materials 

I recast the mouldings and have gessoed and covered the repairs in traditional bole colours

The frame has been re-gilded and burnished

The finished corner with antique toning to match the rest of the existing frame.

 Below the finished frame completed.

Gilding Leather samples

It's amazing how many different ways there are to gild leather! Using silver, gold, aluminum, copper and Dutch metal leafs in various methods of application it's surprising how many different effects are possible. Not to mention areas that can be distressed or colored by pigments. Shoes, handbags in fact anything that is leather can be gilded, It just opens up new possibilities to create or revitalize your personal fashion accessories.

Oil Gilding in London transported to Moscow

This suite of  French Louis X1V old reproduction, style four armchairs and sofa were in a poor state and my client asked for the original surface to be made golden once again. It had previously been oil gilded so I prepared the existing surface with a base coat and re-gilded with 23.75 carat Rose noble gold leaf. My client also liked the "glitz" of the new gold so i left the surface untouched and uncoloured. The new upholstery completed the transformation. This stylish set now languishes in a Moscow salon.

"Gold Shoes" A Gilded sculpture

These sculpture are shoes I made from tissue paper which I gilded using 23.75 carat gold leaf. Life sized they are really delicate but surprisingly robust. Its possible to gild almost any material. I really enjoy experimenting and exploring new gilding projects. I exhibited these in the show "What We Will Know Tomorrow" at The  Shoreditch Town Hall Gallery London. The second image shows a shot of the site installation which pictures the shoes as if abandoned by the wearer and evoking a sense of absence and loss. 

Alchemy turning gold to silver, pewter and other metallic finishes

The latest development in London for gilding involves technological alchemy! Its now possible to change gold frames to silver, pewter, pink metallic and many other colour combinations using the new acrylic paints that are available. Its a much cheaper way to change your interiors than with water or oil gilding and offers some unusual colour combinations. 

Pluses are that the paint is very hardwearing and doesn't tarnish. 

Its possible to create some antique distressing with pigments and washes. All these reproduction frames started off as gold and ended up a different colour! Anything is possible to paint and change into a new metallic colour!