After having been through to Edinburgh for a previous project I had a fair collection of images from various parts of the city. Views of streets and closes, old buildings and really old buildings, unusual little markings on the pavements or partially worn away posters on telephone boxes. That sort of thing, city stuff. The one thing that did grab my attention was the very old graffiti at the top of the Scott Monument, fascinating stuff. Not just scrawled writings like 'baz waz ere' and stuff like that but beautifully etched perfect lettering depicting initials and usually a date too. I also began to take photos of old and fading hand painted signage for businesses around the city, usually found at the entrance to a tenement which housed several businesses.
With that in mind, I have taken myself into my home city of Glasgow, to do the same. Its amazing how many there are and how many look like they may disappear from sight very quickly. Some are already worn away without much trace but there always is a little left over, maybe even just a slight discolouration of the sandstone they were painted onto.
Well, I thought...and so I'm on a one woman mission to try and preserve as many of these lovingly hand painted signs that may not remain for much longer in our cities or towns and even villages.
I'm not entirely sure yet exactly how I will preserve these masters of signage but I'll just see where my research takes me, either way its entertaining just trying to find them!
