Over centuries, sign painting it evolved into a craft learned via apprenticeships, with itinerant “walldogs” traveling to paint outdoor adverts, shop signs, and pub murals by eye and brush—often on scaffolds or ladders. The golden age peaked in the early‑to‑mid 20th century, before vinyl and digital printing undercut the trade, relegating many signs to fading “ghost signs”.
Pioneering modern craftsmen featured in the 2014 documentary Sign Painters—including Ira Coyne, Bob Dewhurst, Keith Knecht and Mike Meyer—helped spark a revival in traditional brush‑lettering techniques. Historic luminaries such as George Biles, famed British pub‑sign painter, and Harley Warrick, who painted over 20,000 Mail Pouch tobacco barn signs across the U.S., embody the artistry, patience, and cultural legacy of traditional sign painting.
Design, sign painting & photography: BERRI ANTZA
