What makes a Hanging Sign 'just right'?

There are so many options for hanging signs these days, for us it has to be bespoke, and quality. There is no point in buying something generic online that will have rust dripping down it in a couple of years. A sign can be a first impression of your home, farm or business, the first thing you see when you arrive home at night, so it's worth putting the extra effort in to get it just right!

Where will the hanging sign be located?

Perhaps not the most exciting point, but it is so important to consider the size when choosing a custom hanging sign. We suggest customers cut out a piece of card, hold it up and stand back to gauge what will stand out and be noticed without being overbearing. While working on bespoke designs, we can let you know how large the text will be prior to finalising so sizes can be amended if necessary.

As a designer it is also worth bearing in mind the location when actually drawing – if the sign will have clear space behind allowing light to shine through, more detail can be incorporated. If it’s in a shadier spot, the design quite often needs to be bolder to stand out.

Looking at the practicalities of how it will hang. Will you need to order a wooden post locally? Black Fox can manufacture a custom sign to fit with an existing post or bracket if there is one suitable in place. We can weld sign links in precisely the right location to fit with an existing hanging bracket, and are always happy to fit in with planning stipulations for occasions when listed building consent is required.

This sign below represents a new start for a farming family in Dumfries. It features our customers business logo, a belted Galloway cow placed centrally in a scene we created. It’s situated with plenty of space around it, allowing it to shine in its own right. A stunning sunset like this draws the eye to it, making the sign the centre of attention.

"Honestly it cheers me up every day seeing that sign. It has received so many admirers. And it’s different all the time because of what the sky is doing behind it. Just so delighted with it thank you!"

Even if buying for a gift, these practical points are worth considering before hand. A little consideration can take a custom sign from being a well meant gift to being an absolutely perfect piece admired for years to come.

Personality, Pride and Authenticity

Black Fox’s confident, bold designs are distinctive in their style and covering a wide range of subject matter, can bring to life your ideas to create the perfect custom hanging sign.

This sign based on a photograph of a much loved spot in the Scottish borders where we will eventually build our family home. A patch of woodland with the river Slitrig running through it was the inspiration; the old stone road bridge prominent in the foreground. The whimsical detail in the river and the rolling hills in the background are distinctively Black Fox, and the design even features our own collie dog Bryn, and a Horse as a nod to our neighbours over the other side of the river. This is our vision of home… what would yours look like?

Tip: when commissioning a custom hanging sign, you really cannot give too much detail to the designer!

Custom hand forged scrollwork can be created to suit existing metalwork, or simply have no scrollwork where a more contemporary feel is desired. We work alongside your personal taste to create a sign that is authentically yours. Black Fox’s work is never generic or copied from elsewhere, and we do not use AI. Our attention to detail cannot be beaten and with our willingness to learn and work with our customers means you’ll always get 100%.

What’s next for black fox’s custom hanging signs?

At Black Fox Metalcraft we are always improving and updating our designs. There are so many unscrupulous businesses online producing cheap copies of artists' work so we just have to be better, and stay a step ahead, always. As an illustrator, I am always drawing, taking photos, and making mental notes of anything that might prove useful. I am currently enjoying working on silhouettes that are distinctive of a particular type of tree – we’re just doing a village sign featuring giant cedars . There are so many beautiful trees in our valley, I enjoy watching them evolve over the course of a year, they are always a great source of inspiration. The borders is also full of countless beautiful rivers and lochs, I’d love to make time to spend a day drawing it and see where that takes my designs.

This year I have been working on Blacksmithing skills, particularly organic shapes like leaves and flowers. It would be wonderful to incorporate some of this into a bespoke bracket for a custom hanging sign!

If you would like to discuss your ideas for your very own custom hanging sign, contact Black Fox Metalcraft today.