Dave Smith: An Artist At Work

Dave Smith is a name that has become synonymous in Signwriting circles with high quality, hand crafted reverse glass signs and mirrors. It is fair to say that now a days this is the main thrust of his work. There is, however, more to his story.

To understand Dave’s work a little more and appreciate the complex nature and intricate detailing that goes into every piece, take at look at this short film.

David A Smith – Sign Artist from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

His career in Signwriting began in 1984, when he left Westlands School in Torquay, aged 16 and was apprenticed for 5 years with Gordon Farr & two associates. These gentlemen were traditional signwriters, who had come up through the ranks and Gordon, in particular had an almost uncanny ability to paint letters, accurately laid out, without even a preutinary sketch. Under their tutelage, Dave became an accomplished draftsman, accurate letter painter & talented pictorialist.

In 1992, Dave set up his own business ‘signworks’ in Torquay, dealing in every aspect of the signtrade from vehicle vinyl to 3D installations, but always with his own stamp of unique design & pristine execution.

In the same year, on a visit to New Zealand, he had the immense good fortune to be invited to Wilmington, California, to meet Rick Glawson & Lola Grey and the crew of the ‘Fine Gold Company’. Rick, who is sadly no longer with us, was universally regarded by his peers as the Godfather of Gilding, with a reputation for sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of glass decoration with eager students of the craft. The two became firm friends & Dave thereafter attended the California conclave of Letterheads every year. This is a gathering of talented sign artists, carvers, Muralists & gold leaf experts. They further fueled Dave’s passion for creating elaborate, ornate mirrors & reverse glass signs of distinction.

At the peak of ‘Signworks’ success, Dave sold the business, to concentrate more fully on gilding, painting & acid-etching glass, adding brilliant cutting, so that he could fully replicate the Victorian glass work he admires so much. From home in Torquay, Devon, UK, he continues his quest to uncover & share yet more knowledge of the processes involved.

Dave has never lost sight of the debt he owns to Gordon Farr, Rick Glawson & others too numerous to mention, for sharing their knowledge and passion with him. So, in return, he shares the fruits of his study with his may friends, old & new, in the sign trade, through courses, step by step instruction and one to one chats on the phone or internet.

He is supported, unwaveringly by his wife Mel and his Daughters, Hannah, Lauren & Millie, who, who tolerate his long work hours, frequent trips abroad and the steady stream of visitors through the family home, who come to harvel at the work & learn.

For this, and for them, Dave is eternally grateful.

See more of Dave Smith’s work on his website: www.davidadriansmith.com