Live personalisation at Gucci, New Bond Street

LIVE EVENT CALLIGRAPHY & ENGRAVING
FOR LUXURY BRAND ACTIVATIONS
IN LONDON

I've worked with some of the most recognisable luxury brands in the world, delivering live calligraphy and engraving at brand activations and retail events across London and the UK. I also offer live bottle illustration and bespoke painting, working from pre-agreed floral designs to bring a hand-crafted visual element to activations.

Past clients include Gucci, Tom Ford, Estée Lauder, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Jo Malone London, among many others, with live events delivered at locations including Harrods and Selfridges.

Key Benefits

  • A memorable keepsake for guests that reinforces your brand

  • Personalisation tailored to your aesthetic, from calligraphy and engraving to bespoke bottle painting

  • A live experience that guests remember and talk about long after the event

A calm, professional presence at your event

Live brand activations can be fast-paced, particularly in busy retail environments. Alongside the craft itself, I bring a calm and focused presence, helping guests feel at ease while keeping the experience flowing smoothly.

I'm used to adapting, whether that's managing a busy period at a Harrods counter, delivering one-to-one at a flagship store, or working at high volume in busy travel retail environments. The aim is always the same: every guest is made to feel special, and your brand experience remains seamless throughout.

Clients & Industries

I provide live calligraphy services for brands and corporate events, creating thoughtful, personalised experiences for guests across a range of settings, from product launches and brand activations to gifting experiences and VIP events.

My clients include luxury fragrance and beauty brands, PR and experiential agencies, corporate event teams, hotels and hospitality venues, and in-store activation teams.

Live calligraphy, engraving and bottle painting can be delivered individually or combined, depending on what the event calls for.

On-site services include:

Live Calligraphy · Live Engraving · Live Bottle Illustration & Painting

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Enquire

Live Calligraphy

There's something about seeing words written by hand in the moment that no printed alternative can match. Whether it's a personal message on a gift tag, a name on a piece of packaging, or hand-lettered initials on a champagne bottle, live calligraphy transforms a beautiful product into something deeply personal.

I work in a range of modern and traditional styles, selected to suit your brand aesthetic and the tone of the event. Each piece is written with care and consistency, whether I'm working through a busy queue or creating something more considered one-to-one.

Live calligraphy works beautifully as a standalone service or combined with engraving and bottle painting for a fuller personalisation experience.

Common surfaces include: gift tags and notecards, product packaging, canvas tote bags, glass baubles, signage and place cards, perfume bottles and champagne bottles.

Live event calligraphy for Jo Malone Brand activation event
  • Live calligraphy Valentine's note created at a Gucci event in London
  • Live calligraphy on gift card at Mermaid Gin brand activation
  • Live calligraphy on heart shaped cards at a Valentine's fragrance brand activation
  • Hand written live calligraphy on notecards at a brand activation
  • Live gold calligraphy on Jo Malone London gift box at a Christmas brand activation

Live Engraving

Hand engraving is one of the most enduring things you can offer a guest at a brand activation. A name, a date, an initial, permanently etched by hand onto glass or metal, creating something that will last long after the event itself.

I use a cordless portable micro drill, which means my setup is self-contained and requires no electricity. It's practical for busy retail environments and flexible enough to work across a wide range of venues and settings.

Engraving is available in a range of modern and traditional styles, selected to suit the surface, the brand aesthetic and the occasion. It works beautifully as a standalone service or alongside live calligraphy and bottle painting for a fuller personalisation experience.

Common surfaces for live engraving include: fragrance bottles, candle jars, spirit bottles, metal tumblers, lipstick and compact cases.

Live engraving applied to a glass bottle during an on-site brand activation
  • Personalised Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt bottle with hand engraved name
  • Hand engraved Jo Malone perfume bottle at a luxury brand activation
  • Hand engraved Rituals candle lid at a brand activation event
  • Hand engraved Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess perfume bottle at a live brand event
  • Hand engraved Jo Malone candle lid with personalised message
  • Hand engraved Rituals candle with personalised name at a live brand activation
  • Hand engraved compact mirrors with personalised initials

Live Bottle Illustration & Painting

Hand illustration and painting on glass transforms a beautiful product into something completely one of a kind. Working directly onto the bottle with fine pens or brushes, I create floral and botanical designs that are agreed and practised in advance, ensuring a consistent and confident result for every guest.

Live bottle illustration is an established part of my live event offering, with projects delivered for brands including Estée Lauder and selected clients under NDA.

Bespoke bottle painting using brushes is available as a studio service and for selected live activations by arrangement, where designs are prepared and agreed ahead of the event.

This service works beautifully alongside live calligraphy and engraving for a truly bespoke guest experience.

Common surfaces include: perfume bottles, spirit bottles, glassware and product packaging.

A glass vase with pink flowers submerged in yellow liquid, held by a hand against a white background.
  • Hand painting white daisies onto a clear glass perfume bottle
  • Live hand illustration of snake design on Estée Lauder bottle for Chinese New Year brand activation
  • Hand painted perfume bottle with bespoke pink rose design
  • Live hand illustration of clouds and stars on Estée Lauder bottle at a brand activation
Calligraphy for live events and brand activations

Live Event FAQ’s

  • A workspace with sufficient surface area and legroom is required to ensure accurate and comfortable execution throughout the event. Full setup details are confirmed in advance as part of the planning process.

    My setup is self-contained and does not require access to electricity, allowing for a flexible, low-impact presence suitable for a wide range of event and retail environments.

  • Engraving produces minimal sound and is suitable for most retail and event environments. Engraving on metal is more audible than glass, and suitability is always discussed in advance to ensure it aligns with the venue, event format, and guest experience.

  • Yes — I’m based an hour away from central London and can travel nationally and internationally. Travel requirements and any associated costs are discussed during the project planning process.

  • Live calligraphy and engraving is available in a considered range of modern and traditional styles. The most appropriate style is selected based on the surface, event context, and brand aesthetic, and refined through scale and finish to suit the application.

    Examples of lettering styles can be viewed on the Calligraphy Styles page.

  • All details are confirmed in advance, including timing, location, surfaces, and style preferences, to ensure the work sits comfortably within the brand and venue. In some cases, surfaces are tested in the studio ahead of time to confirm suitability.

  • Live services may be commissioned individually or combined to support luxury activations, product launches, or immersive guest experiences, depending on the brief and setting.

Follow my work on Instagram

Handwritten place cards in a copperplate script for a recent luxury event. . . . . . . . . #copperplatecalligraphy #calligraphy #placecards #weddingcalligraphy #ukcalligrapher
Creating personalised Valentine’s notes at the Gucci flagship on New Bond Street, London. Each note was handwritten in silver ink and finished with a hand-poured wax seal set with rose petals. A pleasure to work within such a beautiful setting

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