Framing Materials
Because we’re just as likely to be framing a precious family photo as working on an entire exhibition destined for a museum or gallery, we work with a range of framing materials to suit different requirements and budgets.
If you already have a good idea of what you’d like, great! If you can’t picture what a particular finish looks like or you aren’t sure whether your specific piece or collection needs conservation-quality materials, just ask and we’ll be happy to advise.
We work with the following framing materials:
Custom finishes
For a unique look that works perfectly with both your artwork and the display space, you can’t beat a hand-finished frame. Not only does this provide the highest level of craftsmanship, it means you have a say over the exact shape and width of the moulding you want, as well as the specific colour or finish.
You can choose from the following finishes:
Waxed wood
Including natural, black, white, and combinations of these. A waxed finish offers long-term protection and acts as a barrier against dust, making cleaning a breeze.
Stained and waxed wood
Your frame will be stained to the colour and shade you want then finished with wax to add a gorgeous light-reflecting shine as well as a layer of protection.
Painted wood
Choose from the Farrow and Ball or Little Greene colour ranges. Your frame will be given an undercoat and then finished with your chosen paint colour and either left matte or waxed to provide a harder finish with a slight patina.
Gessoed & painted
For a smoother finish that disguises the wood grain, we can prime the wood with layers of gesso before painting with Farrow and Ball paints.
Mouldings
During your appointment, you’ll have the chance to view a wide range of moulding chevrons, from the likes of LION Picture Framing Supplies, Centrado, Frinton Frames, and Larson-Juhl.
Want to add a little extra drama or definition to your frame? We can use slip mouldings to add a coloured or metal sight edge to the inside of the moulding, or we can offer ‘stacking’, using more than one moulding to introduce a real sense of gravitas to a larger piece of artwork.
Mountboards
From finding the perfect colour to layering mountboards for a stunning effect, there are multiple ways mountboards can complement your framed piece.
However, the right mountboard doesn’t just enhance the look of your artwork; it protects it too, by keeping the glass from touching the framed piece and offering extra support within the frame.
Because the lower quality of standard core mountboard can cause damage to your artwork over time, we only stock white core, conservation, and museum-quality mountboard — available in a wide range of colours to complement any artwork.
Glass
Like mountboards, the glass we use to frame your artwork, photos, documents, or memorabilia is about more than just aesthetics.
It protects your items from damp, dirt, and clumsy handling…and it can protect your art from the damaging effects of UV light. We can even provide you with anti-reflective glass so your picture is always displayed in its best light!
We work with several different types of frame glass including:
Float glass — for excellent light properties and 40-45% UV protection
Float glass takes its name from the production process, where molten glass floats on a bed of melted tin, resulting in a strong, durable glass with a flawlessly flat surface that provides crystal-clear transparency. Our float glass also offers UV protection of 40 – 45% making it an excellent choice for displays in sunny rooms.
Acrylic Glass – lightweight and unbreakable
This lightweight glass is more durable than real glass, making it the ideal choice for a child’s room or other display areas where you need an unbreakable option!
For an even lighter option, Plexiglas® is a great alternative.
Artglass — the brand trusted by galleries across the globe
From Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum to the Forbidden City Museum in Beijing, galleries around the world rely on Artglass for their works of art and priceless artefacts.
We stock a range of Artglass products.
Whether you’re worried about damage caused by travel, need museum-grade protection for priceless artworks, or just want to ensure your picture will still look good decades from now, we have exactly what you need.
We offer:
ArtGlass UV99:
This conservation-grade ArtGlass product might look like regular glass, but its 99% UV block will prevent any UV damage, keeping your treasured keepsakes from fading, preventing photographs from yellowing, and protecting the integrity of the artwork’s materials.
ArtGlass AR70:
This option provides your art with up to 70% UV protection and with its near invisible appearance and anti-reflection properties it’s a great choice for reproducible artwork or photographs that don’t need conservation-grade glass.
ArtGlass AR92:
A super clear, anti-reflective glass with up to 92% UV protection, people love the subtle ocean-blue reflection it produces.
ArtGlass AR99 Water White:
If you’re framing original artworks or memorabilia with high sentimental value, this could be a great option. This anti-reflective glass offers incredible transparency and the highest possible UV protection.
ArtGlass Lifetime Acrylic Glass:
With maximum UV protection, this lightweight, shatter-resistant, anti-static, museum-grade glazing option is ideal for valuable or large scale artworks that need extra protection during transportation.
Whether you know what you want from your picture frame or need to talk through the different options, we’d love to welcome you to our framing studio.
