Forest of Signs

Final Degree Project at City & Guilds Art School 

London's Forest of Signs is a series of hand-carved signs inspired by the elaborate trade signs that once filled London's streets during the eighteenth century. Before street numbering became commonplace, these signs acted as landmarks, advertisements and symbols of identity, creating a rich visual language across the city.

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The collection includes five signs inspired by historic London trades—a pub, butcher, bookseller, jeweller and key cutter—combining traditional woodcarving, Roman lettering, gilding and hand-painted finishes with my own contemporary designs.

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Alongside the carvings, I produced a companion zine inspired by historic trade catalogues, handbills and promotional ephemera. Together, the work celebrates the lost language of London's streets, exploring carved signs as objects of communication, craftsmanship and storytelling.