Liane Barker is a highly experienced, second generation, trade-qualified Traditional Signwriter and Gold Leaf specialist with 44 years’ professional experience across hand-painted signage, gold leaf gilding, scenic painting, and prop making. Extremely skilled in recreating period-accurate sign and gold leaf work for heritage restoration, architectural environments as well as film, television and theatre. Continuing the legacy of her father’s business Barker Signs (est. 1964), with extensive knowledge of traditional materials, historic lettering styles, and hand-crafted finishes.

KEY SKILLS

• Traditional hand-painted signage (all styles & periods)
• Gold leaf specialist – water & oil gilding on glass, substrates and interiors
• Period-accurate lettering, logos, and finishes
• Hand recreation of designs and logos from reference
• Faux finishes, ageing & patination techniques
• Scenic painting for sets and architectural features
• Props fabrication: foam carving, building & finishing

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Signwriting & Gilding

• Hand-painted and gold leaf signage for shopfronts, windows, vehicles, vintage boats, and honour boards
• Specialist heritage and restoration sign work
• High-end finishes suitable for public-facing architectural settings

Scenic Art & Props

• Theatre set painting for children’s theatre (1980s–1990s)
• Creation of large-scale props for burlesque and drag productions
• Foam carving, sculpting, painting, and signwriting to match specific historical periods
• Close collaboration with creatives to realise visual concepts

Design & Client Work

• Worked with private, corporate, and creative clients
• Provided design solutions alongside custom hand-painted and gilded finishes
• Trusted for accuracy, craftsmanship, and reliability

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Barker Signs — Traditional Signwriting & Gilding
Established 1964

• Ongoing operation of a respected heritage signwriting practice
• Specialist in traditional methods and materials

ADDITIONAL NOTES 

• Comfortable working to tight schedules and changing briefs
• Happy to collaborate within heritage agencies, art, set decoration, and props departments
• Equally confident working independently or as part of a team
• All work is fully hand-executed, no vinyl or digital shortcuts unless requested

Professional Affiliations / Qualifications

TRADE QUALIFIED: – Signwriting & Screenprinting 1982 – Began my signwriting career in 1980 when only hand painted and screenprinted signage was taught in the trade (no digital or computer generated signage was around – this entered the trade after I completed my apprenticeship).

AWARD: Top Apprentice Award for Queensland in Signwriting & Screenprinting 1982.

DEGREE: Bachelor of Creative Arts Degree majoring in Printmaking and Sculpture

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION:

2017 – Invited to participate in an All Female Signwriting Exhibition in Chicago where I was the only Australian female signwriter in attendance.

2018 – Invited to participate in International Letterheads Sign Exhibition in London – my entry was sold and is now in situ in a restaurant outside of London.

2019 – Invited to the USA where I instructed signwriting at a prestigious Signwriting, Pinstriping and Airbrushing Retreat in Paonia, Colorado USA

2020/2021 – Launched Online Signwriting Workshops expanding my reach worldwide.

2021 – Nominated for the Women in Signpainting Award by Signs of the Times Magazine (USA).

My skill and dedication have earned me international recognition, including invitations to exhibit my sign work at prestigious events in the U.S., U.K., and Europe. I have worked alongside renowned international signwriters and have taught Glass Gilding and Traditional Signwriting workshops in Chicago, Boston, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Florence, London, Edinburgh and Dublin.