Paul Antonio

How would you describe what you do?

I run a calligraphy and bespoke stationery company. We produce our stationery from our hand lettering, and not using fonts. All our illustrations are also done by hand. And it that hand crafted work, the knowledge of which script works best with which printing technique, and the academic historical studies that allows us to produce what we do.

What is your background?

I studied letterform history at the University of Reading's Typography Department, Then trained as a calligrapher, gilder and heraldic artist and went on the study Archaeological illustration, specialising in Egyptian hieroglyphs. My interest is the history of the writing and the decorative arts.

Who inspired you at the outset?

Durer.

Who, or what, inspires you now?

My inspiration is drawn mainly from historical sources, that is the starting point. Once the historical text or illustration is completed the direction can be traditional or modern depending on what I am trying to achieve.

What was the last useful thing you learnt?

Even thought waking up at 530am is a real pain, the work accomplished between 630 at 8 is astonishing - no phones ringing!

What are you working on right now?

A very complex wedding invitation based on illustrations of facetted jewellery with rolling copperplate script, die-stamped on to 5 colours from the glorious Colourplan range.