FROM HUMBLE BEGININGS
Great things always start small!
With over 30 years experience in the sign industry, Robin Watson Sign & Design Ltd are a sign and design company based in Hexham, Northumberland who specialise in bespoke signage solutions.
At RWS&D we pride ourselves in our friendly, professional approach and the quality of our work. We can work to tight specifications for those who know exactly what they want or we can walk you through step by step if you have no idea what you need, providing knowledge and honest advice along the way to get a perfect solution which is both cost effective and eye catching.
Services include:
General signage, Vehicle Livery, Retail, commercial & industrial signage, Architectural signage inc wall graphics, CNC engraved timber signage & structures, Illuminated signage, Banners & flags, Posters, Traditional hand signwriting and gold leafing, Corporate branding, Workwear embroidery and T-shirt printing, Business cards and stationary, Web design and much more...
Contact us to today with your signage requirements...
Our company history
-
Humble beginnings...
January, 1984Robin Watson left employment in the design & advertising dept in Robbs (Hexham) to start up Robin Watson Signs, initially working from his parents' 8' x 4' garden shed. Having studied the art of Traditional Hand Sign Writing and Calligraphy at Newcastle College for a number of years which led to a part time tutors role at the college, Robin used the skills & experience he had worked hard to master and brought them, along with his natural design are to create signs with character and impact.
-
New workshop
February, 1986Robin moved into a workshop in Corbridge where he ran ‘The Fly Box’ fishing shop alongside Robin Watson Signs until the business was established.
-
Embracing technology
March, 1990Technology was embraced as the traditional signwriting took a bit of a back seat with the purchase of our first CAMM vinyl cutter. Not as beautiful but a much quicker option which was preferable to the market at that time.
-
Enter the Gerber!
April, 1996We purchased a Gerber Edge full colour printing machine which added a new dimension to the business and complimented our existing single colour CAMM cutter.
-
Enter the Colin!
May, 1998Colin Groves started working as an apprentice signmaker. With a knowledge of computers and technology it didnt take long to get up to speed with the sign making programs and machinery, whilst the vinyl application techniques through ‘on the job’ training came together nicely too.
-
In comes the new guard.
January, 2010Colin Groves becomes a director of the company alongside Robin following the departure of an existing partner, having taken on a more active role of the business side over the last couple of years.
-
We got wood!
July, 2011We won our first contract for timber engraved signage whilst doing large parts of the project for Kielder Lakeside Way. The standard of our work was recognised by various organisations which brought in more demand and prompted us to buy the equipment necessary to keep it all in house. The company takes its first steps into wide format printing with the purchase of an eco-solvent printer, wide format cutter and laminator.
-
CNC for the win
August, 2012We purchased our first CNC router which enabled us to win a contract with FC England for supply of timber signage as one of only three companies nationwide and enabled us to keep up with demand from an ever increasing workload.
-
Fairwell Tardis
September, 2015Running out of space in our existing Corbridge workshop ‘The Tardis’, we made the decision to move to a larger unit at Acomb Industrial Estate where we have all of our equipment and workforce under one roof. We purchased a replacement wide format printer with the addition of a HP Latex.
-
We are moving...again!
October, 2018Expansion plans as the growth of the timber department including renewal of FC England contract and the addition of being named a nominated supplier for FC Scotland. We are moving into a large unit in Hexham where there are purpose built areas for vehicle wrapping, vinyl application and lamination, CNC router room and a showroom area for material and signage samples. We have also purchased some new equipment including a second CNC router which will help to keep up with demand and open new markets.
-
Hello Hexham
November, 2018Due to the continued growth of our timber signage dept we moved into a large unit in Hexham which includes a purpose built area for producing the timber signs and bought a second CNC router to keep up with the increase in demand. We also have a heated booth where vehicle graphic application and wrapping take place.
-
Take a seat and rest your feet!
March, 2019Director and founder of the company Robin decides to take semi retirement to concentrate on other interests and hobbies. Colin takes over full control of the company. The company invests in new machinery in the form of a wide planer/thicknesser to increase productivity and efficiency in the timber dept.
-
Refresh and relaunch
Jan, 2020A new beginning as ‘Robin Watson Sign & Design Ltd’ relaunch with a change of corporate branding and colours as well as changing the trading name to ‘Sign & Design’ to reflect the change in the structure of the company.
-
Here's to the future!
January, 2030We look forward to welcoming clients new and old very soon...
