Over the years I pursued a career in creative signage melding many techniques but with an emphasis on rock solid design and good layout.  I teamed up with Dave Crossley and we opened a few shops where we achieved notoriety by combining our skills in mixed media sign work.  We were approached my many prestigious clients including Tate Britain and produced some amazing and awesome work.    All was going splendidly until disaster struck.  In 2001 I was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes.   Everything went pear shaped.   Ultimately this cost us the business and our marriages.  We were gutted - this business was and still is our lives.  Dave has gone on to become one of the UK’s most renowned airbrush artists and has also pursued a career in fine art. 

My health problems, on the other hand, have meant that I can no longer work doing what I do best and, in a way, that has lead me to where you see me now.  Still with a fierce passion for the business and traditions I hold dear and an inherent desire to publicise what we do, make things better, change and hopefully inspire the graphics industry by promoting better layout and encouraging the fusion of different techniques.   The Signoholics blue print was test marketed under the guise of Signs at Large, launched as a test bed late 2001, and evolved into Signoholics - a word that says what it is on the tin. The whole concept is massively time consuming, often working 18 hours daily, promoting and building the Signoholics movement.  

There have been times when this has been extremely difficult especially when faced with criticism and lack of support from folk that I held a great deal of respect for. 

Despite the tough times I believe I have worked hard and served my time in the signwriting business.  I have every right to and have worked hard to be where I am now.  As I mentioned earlier, the more folk who tell me I will fail or work against me, the more determined I become to succeed.

And so, Signoholics follows the path of others, although a little differently. The movement is based on, primarily, what we are - a group of sign people, graphics folks, web designers, illustrators, monumental masons, airbrush artists, fine artists, calligraphers, interior designers, tattooists, anyone with an interest in fine lettering, graphics and good layout - providing an open source of inspiration built on a foundation of  'excellence in design' - A Designer’s Bible.

My hope is that Signoholics can support that.  I need as many folks as possible to help me paint our new picture, to share our passion, to shout out loud what we do, create a community and an industry standard for all to follow.   I can't paint 24 years into a few paragraphs but I hope you can share my vision, philosophy and that what you see here at Signoholics.com will fuel your desires.  By whatever media you use - follow our design code, spread the word and share with others in all design related fields.   Thanks for taking a little time to read about Signoholicism.

Cheers!

Pete Ball
Signoholic - Site Founder
3^rd generation signwriter
& Design Fanatic..

“Do not go where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”