ABOUT
Rachel E Millar is a signwriter/sign painter, glass gilder and lettering artist based in Glasgow, Scotland. She specialises in designing and painting lettering by hand – large or small, interior or exterior, on shop fronts, on walls and almost any other surface. She works somewhere between design, art and craft, combining traditional techniques with contemporary design. Her clients are mainly independent Scottish companies, but she has also completed projects for clients such as H&M, the Scottish BAFTAs, Adobe, Innis & Gunn and more.
As well as commercial commissions, she also works on her own artwork and collaborations with a range of other creatives. Her own work experiments with colour and perspective and has been exhibited in the UK and the USA. Original paintings and prints can be purchased here.
Rachel has taught at educational institutions and hosted a range of workshops across Scotland. She hosts regular beginners workshops at Bungo Sign Co. More info and tickets here. She is passionate about making the craft inclusive, so in 2022 she hosted 'Burds of the Brush', an international meet of women and non-binary signwriters (more info here). She has spoken at multiple events about her work and enjoys talking about contemporary signwriting to a broad range of audiences. Get in touch if you'd like to discuss any private workshops or talks.
Copyright 'Curse These Eyes' for Finnieston Clothing
Copyright 'Curse These Eyes' for Finnieston Clothing
BACKGROUND
Rachel studied graphic design at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2016. During her BA degree she had the opportunity to study at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, USA. It was here she was taught the foundations of hand lettering and calligraphy during an intensive semester-long course. With this knowledge she returned to Scotland to pursue signwriting.
She started her own business in 2017 after an informal apprenticeship with Ciaran Globël of Globël Signs. She spent five years working independently from a studio space in Mount Florida Gallery and Studios.
In 2023 Rachel founded 'Bungo Sign Co.' with Hana Lindsay of 'Sure Signs' and they opened their first shop front premises in Shawlands, Glasgow south side. They still work independently but come together as Bungo for larger projects. The shop is primarily their studio for fabricating and painting signs, but they also host workshops, talks and open as a shop on selected dates. See the Bungo Sign Co Instagram for details.
Visit the CONTACT page for commission enquiries.
Copyright Lia Hinz/Bungo Sign Co
Copyright Glasgow Times
PRESS –
Gold leaf Kodak ad recreation featured in Better Letters' BLAG 04 – 2023
'Bungo Sign Co.' studio/shop opening feature, Glasgow Times – 2023'Burds of the Brush: One Year On' article published in Better Letters' BLAG 03 – 2023
Featured in 'Decorating Matters' signwriting article – 2022
'Living' Magazine Feature, Clyde and Cart edition – 2022
BBC Scotland/Arts Feature, watch on iPlayer here – 2021
Scots Magazine spotlight feature – 2020
'We Are Makers' Issue 1 feature – 2020
V&A Dundee interview – 2020
'People MAKE Glasgow' front cover feature – 2020 (buy it here)
Adobe Europe 'Live from the Sofa' interview (watch back here) – 2020
Glasgow Times article feat. Live Signwriting work for Innis & Gunn – 2020
Feature in 'Aye Mag Vol. 2' – 2020
Guest on 'Drunk on Lettering' Podcast, Hosted by Pandr Design Co. – 2019 (listen here)
Dickies Workwear featured 'Meet the Maker', 2019
Delicate Rebellion Interview, – 2019
Featured on 'Our 10 Favourite Scottish Creatives' by Shillington Design Blog – 2019
Tens Interview – 2019
Featured on '10 of the Best Independent Creatives in Scotland' – MadeBrave, 2019
Stylist Magazine 'Fearless' print feature – 2018
Lettering Daily Interview– 2018
The Skinny, Graphic Design and Illustration Graduates from ECA – 2016
EXHIBITIONS –
'Creative Resilience', a group show at Yardlife Gallery, SWG3 – Glasgow, 2022
'BACKSP!N' curated by Pim Pam for Drumchapel TTC – Glasgow, 2021
The Previnylettes' Suffragette Centennial – Portland, OR, USA, 2020
Tactile Mk. 3 curated by Hana Sunny Whaler and Jake Tyler – London, 2019
'Yardworks Festival' – SWG3 Warehouse, Glasgow, 2019
'Sign Up!', New Brewery Arts – Cirenchester, 2019
The Grand Exhibition of the Pre-Vinylite Society: An 18th Century Revival – London, 2018
'Make Waves': A collaborative exhibition with Karina Duncan, Glasgow, 2018
'Still Good Type' – CassArt, Glasgow, 2017
'The Pre-Vinylettes: An International Showcase of Women Sign Painters' – Chicago, IL, United States, 2017
'Pissed Modernism' – Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh, 2017
'Work in Progress II' – Summerhall, Edinburgh, 2017
'Good Type' – The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, 2016