David A. Smith (designer)

David Adrian Smith MBE (born 1968) is a British designer, glass embosser, gilder and signwriting artist based in Torquay, Devon (United Kingdom)

David Smith

MBE
Born
David Adrian Smith

1968
Stroud, Gloucestershire
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Designer, glass embosser, gilder and signwriter
SpouseMelissa Smith
ChildrenHannah Smith
Lauren Smith
Amelia Smith
Websitedavidadriansmith.com
Born and Raised album cover

He started his own sign writing company in 1990 and after 13 years sold the business in 2003 to concentrate more on hand crafted lettering and glass gilding. His main techniques include water and oil gilding, verre églomisé, acid etching, brilliant cutting, French embossing, glue chipping, sand blasting, screen printing and sign writing. In recent years David Smith has also focused on traditional, ornamental hand drawn design. He teaches the craft of sign writing and reverse glass gilding all over the world. He was awarded an MBE for services to reverse glass ornamental artistry in the 2020 New Year Honours.[1]

Reverse Glass Sign in 2015 for the Internationally renowned artist and founder of Kings Avenue Tattoo in New York, Mike Rubendall.

Early life

David Smith was born in 1968 in Stroud, Gloucestershire. He moved to Torquay in 1978. In 1984, with help from his father, he began a traditional 5 year apprenticeship at Harmony Signs in Paignton, learning glass embossing and sign writing.[2]

Career

In 2012, Smith was hired by American singer songwriter John Mayer from Sony Music/Columbia Records to design an album cover for John Mayer's studio album Born and Raised. The cover was styled like a circa-1900 trade card.[3] After completion, Mayer used the album-cover on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and the David Letterman Show.[2] Besides the album cover, David Smith designed artwork for the single "Queen of California". He has also worked on posters and other merchandise associated with the album and single.[2][4][5]

Also in 2012, David Smith was commissioned by Jameson Whiskey to design a St.Patrick's Jameson Whiskey bottle for the brand. The design, apart from being used on the limited edition bottle, was produced as a hand crafted mirror that can be seen at Jameson Experience, Midleton.[6][7]

In 2013 Smith made gold leaf glass signs for the Burberry store in Regent Street in London.[2] The Ginstitute on Portobello Road, London, has received ornate gilded advertising mirrors produced by Dave Smith.[2] Later in 2013, the artist worked on an album cover for the band The Kings of Leon. The artwork was used for the single "Beautiful War" of their album "Mechanical Bull".[8] Other notable commissions in the music industry include artwork for the Band The Grateful Dead (Typography and poster) Bernie Marsden's biography book cover (Whitesnake) Wheres My Guitar.

In 2015, Smith was invited to Disney World, Florida to talk and present to over 100 Disney Imagineers about his philosophy on design across Europe, as well as his Victorian style lettering he has become famous for.[9][10] In 2015 Smith designed the bottle artwork for Booth's Gin.[11]

In 2016, Smith made a commission for John Mayer and PRS Guitars to design a hand-signed sticker in the f-hole of a special Limited Edition run of Private Stock named the “Super Eagle” guitar.[12]

In 2019, Smith hand designed the monograms for the Limited Edition guitars made for The Dropkick Murphys made by Duesenberg Guitars. In 2019 Smith created and designed the Album Cover for the Kris Barras Band. Light it Up.

Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to reversed glass ornamental artistry.[13]

References
  1. "Order of the British Empire". The London Gazette.
  2. "Rock star John Mayer's accolade for Torquay engraver David Smith". Herald Express. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  3. "The Making of Kings of Leon 'Beautiful War' Artwork by David Smith". Inspiration Hut. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  4. "Keeping Signwriting Afloat: David Smith Will Give You a New Appreciation for the Gilded Mirrors You (Most Likely) See in Pubs". Core77. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. "Pop connection is perfect proof that Torquay craftsman David's in a glass of his own". Western Morning News. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  6. "Limited Edition Bottle St Patrick's Day Jameson Bottle". Scoop News. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  7. "jameson whiskey st. patrick's day 2013 label design by david smith". Designboom. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. "Torquay artist designs Kings of Leon single cover". Western Morning News. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  9. "Why Disney love these designs by South Devon's David Smith". Torquay Herald Express. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  10. "Film of craftsman catches Disney World imaginations". Western Morning News. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  11. Cook, Asa (4 April 2016). "Design + craft = great packaging". Creative Review. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  12. "PRS Guitars and John Mayer Introduce Limited-Edition Private Stock Super Eagle". Premier Guitar. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  13. "Three MBEs awarded to heritage craftspeople". Heritage Crafts Association. 18 January 2020.
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