My background
Hello - I'm Angela Swan and I have been a professional calligrapher for over 30 years.
In 1985 I left my mundane desk job to attend a 3 year full-time course in calligraphy at Roehampton Institute in London. On leaving college I was really lucky to become assistant to the Master scribe and artist, Donald Jackson.
I gained a lot of experience in the time I worked in his studio, including the opportunity to write some of the Peerage Patents for the Crown Office, before leaving to set up my own workshop at home.
In 2003 I re-joined Donald as one of a team of international calligraphers and artists, to work on the Saint John's Bible Project - a vast endeavour, being the first hand-written and illuminated Bible for 500 years. This meant learning some new skills - or old ones! - namely cutting quills from goose feathers and writing on vellum. For more information and to see examples of this awe-inspiring 13 year project go to www.saintjohnsbible.org
My work
I live and work on a beautiful hillside in South Wales, with stunning views across the Black Mountains for inspiration. Although this may sound rather remote, it has proved no obstacle to working for clients up and down the country, as communication is so easy by email and phone. I enjoy the process of designing and making unique pieces of work for personal and formal occasions, and it is so rewarding when customers are delighted with the finished product.
Hello - I'm Angela Swan and I have been a professional calligrapher for over 30 years.
In 1985 I left my mundane desk job to attend a 3 year full-time course in calligraphy at Roehampton Institute in London. On leaving college I was really lucky to become assistant to the Master scribe and artist, Donald Jackson.
I gained a lot of experience in the time I worked in his studio, including the opportunity to write some of the Peerage Patents for the Crown Office, before leaving to set up my own workshop at home.
In 2003 I re-joined Donald as one of a team of international calligraphers and artists, to work on the Saint John's Bible Project - a vast endeavour, being the first hand-written and illuminated Bible for 500 years. This meant learning some new skills - or old ones! - namely cutting quills from goose feathers and writing on vellum. For more information and to see examples of this awe-inspiring 13 year project go to www.saintjohnsbible.org
My work
I live and work on a beautiful hillside in South Wales, with stunning views across the Black Mountains for inspiration. Although this may sound rather remote, it has proved no obstacle to working for clients up and down the country, as communication is so easy by email and phone. I enjoy the process of designing and making unique pieces of work for personal and formal occasions, and it is so rewarding when customers are delighted with the finished product.
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Commissions undertaken include:-
Poetry & prose quotations Family trees Bespoke cards for special occasions Book cover design Memorial books Certificates Presentation documents Personal & business letterheads Town Twinning documents Wedding & other function stationery Baby and wedding books Captions on picture mounts |
One of the Peerage Patents granted in 2007, written with quills on vellum. Heraldry and glorious top line done by other members of Donald Jackson's Scriptorium team.
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