Tom Collins grew up over his parents’landmark public house in Cecil Street, Limerick. His earliest memories are of happy days spent drawing and painting at the kitchen table under the critical eye of his artistic older siblings. But he was also inspired by the craft and design of his surroundings, especially the vivid labels and posters of the golden age of advertising, antique gilded and acid-etched bar mirrors, and the striking hand-painted name over the front door. 

Tom completed the City & Guilds course in traditional signwriting under master signwriter, Gerry Fitzgibbon in Cork in 1995. In the twenty-five years that followed, he has built up a long list of repeat customers from all over Ireland and a substantial portfolio of award-winning work. Specialising in unique and original design and known for his attention to detail, Tom has a genuine love for the traditional techniques of his craft while also using modern materials of the highest quality. 

Each client has unique needs and Tom knows that he should meet those fully. His design philosophy rests on knowing a customer and the unique requirements of the job. He also believes that his work should enhance its surroundings while fostering pride in neighbourhood and place. Thus, each commission results in work that is uniquely distinctive. Knowing that one of his signs will usually be the first thing a new customer will see, Tom believes that it should immediately heighten anticipation of the quality service that will be found within. The approach is at once old-fashioned while reassuringly professional, from the initial appraisal of a client’s request, through the different stages of articulating a message and selecting materials, to execution and delivery. 

Tom provides the following services: Award Winning Shopfront Design; Interior & Exterior Sign work & personalised Mirrors; Traditional Signwriting & Restoration Gilding; Commercial Interiors, film work & Colour Consultancy

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Limerick Love Letters - Image Interiors & Living 

Tom Collins Sign Writer

Tom Collins has been involved in a number of side projects which have engaged with communities in Limerick and others on a national and international stage. Tom organised the ‘Love Letters from Limerick’ exhibition and connected events. He has worked on film sets and hosted workshops in his studio in Limerick and in the Limerick School of Art & Design. Tom has also worked with some of Ireland’s most renowned artists including Dorothy Cross, John Shinnors, Martin Finnin and Tina O’Connell and has been involved in a number of key restoration projects throughout Ireland.

Special Projects Tom worked closely with Limerick band The Cranberries in 2015 on ‘Love letters from Limerick’ with Sean Starr ( Texas USA ) which started as a loose organic idea to hold a sign painting exhibition in the city and took off to include the temporary installation of an enormous ‘Ghost Sign’ conveying the title of The Cranberries first album ‘Everyone Else is Doing it, So Why Cant’t We?’ opposite the venue the band played their very first gig. With tremendous support and contributions from band members and countless individuals and local businesses, 3rd level institutions, two arts council festivals and the energies of invited lettering artists from home and abroad this project showcased the cultural contribution of not only Limerick city but the global art of traditional sign writing and hand painted lettering and the relationship with other creatives and communities.The project helped raise funds through large scale public art installations and auctions for local charities.

The end product was an aged and distressed sign titled ‘Ghost Sign’ now is on permanent display in Limerick Institute of Technology /TUS/ ( L.I.T.)

Workshops Tom runs limited space workshops in his Limerick studio with guest sign writers such as Jakob Engberg from Copenhagen Signs and occasionally other talented visiting lettering artists from around the world. Team building creative workshops for large companies can be arranged.

Fine Art
Tom has worked on several unique fine art gilding projects with Irish artists including Dorothy Cross, John Shinnors, Martin Finnin and Tina O’Connell.

Sharing his skill set and creativity in many disciplines, Tom has produced significant digital directional sign work for EV+A, the Arts Council and Limerick City Council Arts Office and other City & County Council approved promotional campaigns for wide reaching civic/art projects.

Restoration Projects
Tom works with NGI ( National Gallery of Ireland ) restoring priceless artworks for their Conservation Dept and specialist consultants in Limerick, Cork and Mayo County Councils on restoring and preserving historical projects including Christ Church ( now a beautiful theatre and concert venue as part of the Triskel Arts Centre Cork ) and King John’s Castle and Cork Goal.

Film Work

Tom recently completed several 1920’s period correct whiskey mirrors for the interior bar set of the new Martin McDonogh Film ‘The Banshee of Inisherinn’ for Laneway Productions, Ardmore Studios which was shot on location on the Arran and Achill Islands over much of 2021.

Dulux & Limerick Paints

& they said…

Tom really took the time to understand the story behind our business and our new brand in creating our signage for The Bedford. Through the process of working with Tom I truly appreciated both the art and craft form that goes in to a custom created sign and we could not be happier with the finished result. Tom is a true artist and takes great pride in his craft.
Denise Brazil
The Bedford Townhouse & cafe

I’ve worked closely with Tom many times were he has elevated each project by adding his creative genius and flare.I have Tom to thank for enhancing the interior projects that we have worked on together into a form of living art and his work ethic and creativity is second to none.
Tullio Orlandi
Tullio Orlandi Design