Bridlesmith Gate mural artist turns Instagram hobby into a successful career
Its takes a lot to take on a new career but one Nottingham artist who accidentally launched her own company explains the secret to her success
Lorna Dunn pursued her hobby of hand lettering accidentally and launched her own company named Lesser Than Three which specialises in designing and painting store fronts.
Based in Nottingham, she has completed a mural in Bridlesmith Gate which involved using a powered lift to access it at a height. The area has recently undergone a vibrant transformation thanks to the work of several artists. It has brought more footfall into the area which is now thriving with new independent businesses.
I got into lettering originally as a therapeutic practice to aid me at a difficult time. It wasn’t ever a plan to work as a sign painter,” she said.
The transition from a creative pastime to a day job happened naturally when she posted her work on Instagram and people commissioned her to make signs for them.
“I got into lettering originally as a therapeutic practice to aid me at a difficult time. It wasn’t ever a plan to work as a sign painter,” Lorna explained.
Lorna has been hand lettering for over 10 years and started sign painting in 2017. The name of Lorna’s business refers to the heart symbol made by a keyboard, including the ‘less than’ symbol and the number 3 (<3)
Lorna said: “Since my work originally set out with a big emphasis of being ‘made with love’ and ‘from the heart’ it felt appropriate to use the symbolic heart as my name.”
The sign painter has also worked for many independent businesses in the city including The Watered Garden, The Textile Guru and The Little Plant Guys.
Lorna has worked for Facebook to deliver workshops on lettering and painting to employees in London offices to get them away from their computer screens.
She describes herself as an emotional person and the fact that companies trust her to paint their store window is a big compliment to her. With aspirations to produce more ‘art based’ work as opposed to merely commissioned projects, Lorna has an idea for exhibition in the near future.
Lorna mainly works in the East Midlands yet she often accepts work further afield and lives by the phrase “Have brush; will travel!”