2012 marks my 23rd year picture framing
in Harpenden. In these ever changing times
I’m happy to report that not too much has
changed in the world of framing, and in fact
I quite like it that way.
The basics still hold true.
Choosing a picture frame is still a very
personal thing.
Every piece brought in for framing is
special to the customer and that person still
needs to feel confident in the framers ability
to help in the selection process; to trust his ‘eye’ in matters of design
and composition. The permutations of mount and frame are endless
and can be fairly daunting, but having been talked through a few
options I find my customers soon begin to quite enjoy the process.
It’s all about collaboration, and with the client’s input we hope to give
them exactly what they want.
As well as the aesthetic aspect another important consideration may
be the question of conservation.
Whilst not all artworks will require it, if appropriate I can advise on
Museum or Conservation levels of framing.
So now that the choices have been made, the next stage is the careful
fulfilment of the brief in our workshop …
… the domain of Sarah Sharp GCF, our in
house picture framer who I first met nearly a
quarter of a century ago (sorry Sarah!).
Sarah has been a full-time professional
picture framer for over 22 years. She is also
a Guild Commended Framer.
GCF’s are qualified framers whose skills
have been examined in a series of rigorous
tests. The logo that we put on all our frames means that Sarah has been awarded
their ‘emblem of excellence’ by the art and
framing industry’s trade association, the Fine Art Trade Guild.
‘Meticulous’ is the word that best describes Sarah’s approach to
picture framing. A place for everything and everything in its place
means that her workshop is an ergonomic delight!
Seemingly unflappable she glides from mitre cutter to under
pinner, mount cutter to glass bench, and the end results are always
beautifully crafted frames. Her in-depth knowledge of the logistics of
framing means that she can invariably find a solution to even the most
complicated of framing jobs.
After all these years working together we now have an instinctive
rapport and most importantly she is still one of the few people who
can decipher my hand writing!
So there you have it, the A & K Wilson Gallery framing team, just me and Sarah … in person.
For many years we have been recommending the conservation skills of
David Roxby Goller who cleans, restores and re-lines oil paintings.
Formed in 1910, the Fine Art Trade Guild is the trade association for the whole of the art and framing industry.
The Guild Commended Framer programme is internationally recognised as the qualification for the framing industry.
Home of The Federation of British Artists, the umbrella group for the following art societies;
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Society of Marine Artists,
Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, New English Art Club, Pastel Society, Society of Wildlife Artists and The Hesketh Hubbard Art Society.
A holiday cottage with spectacular views to rent on the famous Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset.
Hertfordshire Visual Arts Forum is the voluntary organisation for everyone in the visual and applied arts
in Hertfordshire
A registered charity that cares for and rehomes ex racing and coursing greyhounds in Britain and in Spain.
British Arts, a comprehensive online resource for artists and art buyers
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