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CASE HISTORY: INSPIRATION OF THE LATE richard apps
Introduction by Seraina.
Famous London Signwriters Seraina Baumgartner and Nick Garrett have dedicated themselves to the highest standards in the world of Typographic design, Graphic brand design and Sign Writing.
Out of the blue, the late, great London sign-writer, Richard Apps contacted us, by phone, one afternoon in 2022. He asked us to take over his numeral clientele, as he stepped down from the ladder to retire.
By 2025 we had inadvertantly restored a clutch of his key works across west London. Above: repainting his famous South Ken book shop sign.
”THE FAMOUS COMMEMORATIVE roman LETTERS OF SIGNWRITER RICHARD APPS”
WORKING WITH RICHARD
Out of the blue, the late, great London sign-writer, Richard Apps contacted us, by phone, one afternoon in 2022.
”Hi, Richard Apps here… I’d like you to paint some numerals while I convalesce… can you help?”
”Oh my god Richard! yes definatley would love to!” Was our unbridled response.
I looked on as Nick spoke to his idol for the first time and went through ideas and details together. It was a big moment – A hero stepping down saddened me while I felt proud to be of service to him.
I was honoured because he was an incredibly gifted lettering artist; someone that I had admired, albeit from a distance, for several decades.
We all clicked and so began our collaboration, which in his absence today, we still continue in our studios and on the streets of Chelsea with a passion.
Seraina
The Famed Masterstrokes of Residential House Lettering Painter Richard Apps.
Working with Richard recently, and being around his work in Chelsea for 30 years, allowed NGS to become home of the most special of London’s, famous heritage hand painted and gilded numbers.
I restored his numbers for him. I traced-off directly from his superb, ingenious and beautiful lettering.
Building an accurate memorial archive from such works (shown above and below) we present them as part of our ongoing RA memorial archive collection.
Around town as journeyman sign artists, we are constantly discovering his works… still making London more Beautiful.
Interested in this famous London signwriter’s style?
Checking in your special project with us
Scrapbook of around town – Richard Apps Letterer, inspirer.
This page aims to draw from our gold Fanlight and Property Numbers heritage, and dream-up something exciting and new.