Posted inSeraina Baumgartner London traditional sign writer

3 Recent Restoration Projects

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Seraina Baumgartner is a contemporary Swiss graphic designer and letterform artist known for her refined use of classical Roman lettering traditions within modern design contexts. Her work frequently draws on historical serif typefaces such as Caslon, Baskerville, and Trajan, using their proportions and structural logic as a foundation rather than treating them as decorative pastiche. Baumgartner’s approach reflects a kinship understanding of inscriptional Roman capitals and early print book typography. Typefaces like Caslon and Baskerville populate her work through their balance of calligraphic stroke contrast and elegant forms, while Trajan’s influence is evident in her use of monumental capitals, classical spacing, and stone-carved strength. Her design agility references her work with a sense of classicism, authority, and legibility. The core qualities closely associated with Roman letterforms and her Italian/Swiss origins. What distinguishes Baumgartner’s use of these styles is her restraint and controlled scaling. Rather than falling into the common trap of many young graphic designers of overt overdressed graphic historicism. Seraina retains their essential principles — proportion, rhythm, and spacing hierarchy — and applies them to contemporary commercial worlds of retail layouts, wayfinding, and private house titles and numerals. This aligns her own heritage and design practice with a humanist modernist tradition, embracing classical Roman typography via the lens of Swiss graphic design precision.

3 Recent Restoration Projects Seraina Signs, London traditional sign writer, Sign writing specialist. Gold leaf, Hand painted, shop signs.

1: Rigby Gun Makers

Rigby Gun Makers of London have a distinguished history that dates back to the early 19th century, renowned for their craftsmanship and innovation in firearm manufacturing. Established during a period of rapid technological advancement, the company specialized in producing high-quality rifles, shotguns, and bespoke firearms for both military and civilian use. Their workshops, situated in Battersea, the heart of London, became synonymous with precision engineering and meticulous attention to detail.

Their legacy endures through preserved artifacts and historical records that highlight their pivotal role in London’s industrial restoration heritage and the broader evolution of hand crafted firearm manufacturing in Britain.

This panel came to us in pieces and was typographically redrawn, painted across a new panel of fresh glass, detailed to perfection.

3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS, Rigby Guns makers, NGS restoration sign writiers
Rigby Guns makers, NGS restoration sign writiers
Rigby Guns makers, NGS restoration sign writiers
Rigby Guns makers, NGS restoration sign writiers

2: Repton 12X3 Boxing clubs – 3 Recent Restoration Projects Seraina Signs+NGS

This famous historic boxing club and Repton head coach, world Olympic and British Champion Ryan Pickford’s 12X3 gym, both inexorably imbue the rich culture of East End, world beating boxing culture and Dockland E2 typeface design.

3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate Chelsea signwriters
Gym Signage 12X3, 12x3 signwriting book signpainting book urban distressed NGS London ghost sign gold leaf lettering
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
NGS Painted House numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate, 51.49456765499576, -0.17415278042634838, Chelsea, Fulham road Signwriter, 51.513286138657314, -0.13605138048658413 painted shop signs Soho 51.52381789141246, -0.0772289866369295, Notting hill, Shoreditch signs, City of London, Hatton Garden, Canary Wharf, Clapham, Seraina, Nick Garrett signage, Wayfinding signs, hand painted Balfron Towers, Chelsea signwriters, Poplar, St. James's lettering artists, NGS Painted gold House ,numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS, Dulwich Margate, Chelsea, signwriters, NGS Painted gold House numbers names, Traditional sign writers of London NGS, Dulwich, Margate, Chelsea, signwriters, NGS Painted House numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate, 51.49456765499576, -0.17415278042634838, Chelsea, Fulham road Signwriter, 51.513286138657314, -0.13605138048658413 painted shop signs Soho 51.52381789141246, -0.0772289866369295, Notting hill, Shoreditch signs,
NGS Signwriting London for 12X3 boxing gym sign, Painted signs, house numbers House numerals painted hand painted
Mural walls NGS
NGS Signwriting London for 12X3 boxing gym sign, Painted signs, painted hand painted murals, wall art.
12x3 boxing gym, , signwriting book signpainting book urban distressed NGS London ghost sign lettering
12x3 signwriting book signpainting book urban distressed NGS London ghost sign gold leaf lettering

Working closely with Ryan Pickard, England Olympic boxing champion on this Repton restoration ring design, and other clients across type design, walls, tiles, glass, concrete and canvas these wayfinding and inspirational hand painted missions, resonated with my own arts/sports based culture allowing a close empathic bond to colour the final project.

3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS.

Gym Signage, 3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS

3. Recent Restoration Projects at Royal Hospital Chelsea

3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS, Honours Board Sign Writers, Chelsea Royal Hospital, London

Request came in from a major construction company to match 4 new to old panels in range of areas including central dining hall of RHC.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea was established over 300 years ago, during the reign of King Charles II, to provide a home for soldiers “broken by age and war.” In 1682, the King commissioned Sir Christopher Wren, one of Britain’s most celebrated architects, to design this sanctuary for veteran soldiers with original lettering dating back to its absolute origins.

3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS, Honours Board Sign painters, Chelsea Royal Hospital, London
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
gill sans ngs signs
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
External Gild fanlights kensington
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
NGS Painted House numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate Chelsea signwriters, NGS Painted House numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate, 51.49456765499576, -0.17415278042634838, Chelsea, Fulham road Signwriter, 51.513286138657314, -0.13605138048658413 painted shop signs Soho 51.52381789141246, -0.0772289866369295, Notting hill, Shoreditch signs, City of London, Hatton Garden, Canary Wharf, Clapham, Seraina, Nick Garrett signage, Wayfinding signs, hand painted Balfron Towers, Chelsea signwriters, Poplar, St. James's lettering artists, NGS Painted gold House ,numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS, Dulwich Margate, Chelsea, signwriters, NGS Painted gold House numbers names, Traditional sign writers of London NGS, Dulwich, Margate, Chelsea, signwriters, NGS Painted House numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate, 51.49456765499576, -0.17415278042634838, Chelsea, Fulham road Signwriter, 51.513286138657314, -0.13605138048658413 painted shop signs Soho Brand Designers, 51.52381789141246, -0.0772289866369295, Notting hill, Shoreditch signs,
Mirror Gold Leaf
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS

3. NGS Restoration Font Creators

Our task was to make observations of all inscriptions and identify possible era writers and hands for us to emulate when adding updates and restoring faithfully to the original inscriptions.

By identifying the original hands of William Sharpington and Richard Apps for example, we were able to create a family of revival fonts and vary by hand each character by will and according to the particular panel and setting.

Rare Beautiful Fonts
Rare Beautiful Signs
Comparative Analysis of NGS Trajan Lettering Research and Historical Foundations Introduction The Nick Garrett Signwriters (NGS) possess extensive knowledge and craftsmanship in producing authentic Tru-Cut Trajan lettering, a style rooted deeply in classical Roman inscriptions. Their expertise is complemented by a comprehensive understanding of the historical development of the Trajan typeface, notably Trajan Pro, and the pioneering research conducted by Edward Catich. This analysis aims to compare NGS's latest research findings with these foundational elements, highlighting advancements and nuanced insights. Historical Context of Trajan Lettering Trajan lettering originates from the monumental inscriptions on Trajan’s Column in Rome, dating back to AD 113. These inscriptions exemplify the Roman mastery of stone carving, characterized by precise incised glyphs with clean edges and harmonious proportions. Over centuries, scholars like Edward Catich have meticulously studied these inscriptions, emphasizing the importance of brush and chisel techniques that influenced Roman letterforms. Edward Catich’s Contributions Edward Catich’s groundbreaking research in the mid-20th century revolutionized understanding of Roman inscription techniques. His experiments demonstrated that Roman letters were often created with a brush or stylus at an acute angle, resulting in distinctive serifs and stroke qualities. Catich’s work underscored the importance of tool angle and stroke direction in replicating authentic Trajan lettering, influencing modern typographic interpretations. Trajan Pro Typeface Evolution Trajan Pro, developed by Adobe in 1989, is a digital font inspired by the classical Roman inscriptions. While it captures the general aesthetic—serif shapes, proportions, and stroke contrast—it simplifies some nuances for digital rendering. Critics note that Trajan Pro tends to idealize the letterforms, sometimes overlooking subtle variations present in original stone carvings. NGS Latest Research Insights Recent investigations by NGS have focused on refining the authenticity of Trajan lettering through meticulous analysis of original inscriptions and advanced carving techniques. Key findings include: Tool Angle Precision: Confirming that traditional Roman carvers used an acute angle (approximately 30°) for incising glyphs, which influences the sharpness and depth of serifs. Stroke Dynamics: Demonstrating that strokes often exhibit a slight variation in width due to natural hand movement, challenging the uniformity seen in digital fonts. Material Interaction: Exploring how marble's grain and weathering affect letter clarity over time, providing insights into restoration practices. Modern Replication Techniques: Developing Tru-Cut methods that replicate ancient carving tools and angles with high fidelity, ensuring authentic appearance and durability.
Cornelissen Richard Apps Sign writer font. Traditional Sign Writer NGS London. Font Foundry Soho Bold Type, By NGS London Signs and Banners Co
Richard Apps sign painters Traditional Sign Writer NGS London.London NGS. Marylebone, Mayfair, Soho, Borough market cafe coffee house signage NGS Chiswick
Traditional Sign writing,,, London's roman white gold letters on fanlight glass, Roman Lettering London NGS
Spanish Place, Manchester Sq gilding transom restoration, Gold Leaf gilded Transom Traditional Sign Writer NGS London. Letters by Nick and Seraina NGS Garrett Signs, NGS Truecut Trajan-Type face designers-Rome inspired font design-002-NGS
3 Recent Restoration Projects NGS, Honours Board sign writer, Cavalry and Guards London

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