First year UAL Graphics & Digital Design and UAL Illustration & Animation diploma students had the exciting opportunity to try traditional sign-writing skills and learn about it’s history this month at Preston Park as part of the Stockton Northern Gateway Townscape Heritage Project.

Illustration student Trixabelle O’Malley said “I found the trip to be very informative, educational and fun! I learned how to trace and paint my own sign using professional equipment under the instruction of a specialist; my favourite part was probably doing the warm up tasks as it felt very freeing moving the brush in ways I wouldn’t usually when doing regular painting. My main take away from the session was how many other interesting specialisms and art techniques there are out there that I hadn’t considered before. I found it fascinating learning something that I’d never considered doing before which I feel helped with future career considerations as I now know that you don’t just have to have a career or education revolving around something main stream, you can find your own niche too!”

Graphic student Darci Robinson agreed “The trip itself was really good, we learned how to efficiently sign write and the different techniques used! My favourite part was definitely the sign writing itself but we also learned some amazing things about it all! My main takeaway from the session was to definitely take my time and not everything is perfect first try. I think trips outside the studio are fun and definitely beneficial as it takes us to new places to see and it is also enjoyable!”

“It was a pleasure to host the Traditional Sign writing workshop as part of the Heritage Skills project involving Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Heritage Restorations at Preston Park Museum,” commented workshop leaders Alison and Ron Carroll. “We welcomed the students from The Northern School of Art Graphics and illustration diploma, along with their wonderful tutors, Peter Jones and Lucy Tranter. The students were polite, friendly and interested in the subject from the start to finish, demonstrating flair, artistic skills and great techniques. They truly excelled at first time sign writing, as did Peter and Lucy. Having the tutors join in and share the experience with the students was a bonus for us too. We were thrilled that all were interested and wanted to take part! Ten budding sign writers definitely left at the end of the session; we hope to see them again in the future.”

Trips like this underpin our diplomas to give students new opportunities to students and develop their skills, Trixabelle said “I find trips outside of the studio very useful as it refreshes the learning environment and enables me to work in a different space full of new and different resources and information which I wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.”When asked about her experience on her course she described her experience on her diploma so far as “wonderful, I am learning more than I could have hoped for when I joined the college and find my skills developing and improving every week.”

Speaking of studying graphic design graphics student Darci said her diploma is “really insightful, inspiring and interesting. It takes me to new places and also helps with my creative thinking and understanding.”

The Stockton Northern Gateway Townscape Heritage Project is a five-year £2.9million scheme that is joint funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

It involves restoration projects of historic buildings in Stockton Town Centre, works to the surrounding public realm and a series of community activities and events.

As part of this activity programme, a Heritage Skills Showcase Day will be taking place at Preston Park on Saturday 28 March. This will involve opportunities for people to experience demonstrations on traditional sign writing, joinery and stone masonry.

Find out more about the project, volunteer opportunities or more information on grants available here.