I started picture framing 20 years ago as a hobby, this progressed to making frames for family and friends, the more I made, the more involved in picture framing I became. This continued for several years until I found myself spending almost as much time picture framing as I was in my primary profession as a teacher.
After over 20 years it took a great deal of thought and consideration, but I felt I had given enough to teaching and decided it was time to do something completely different. And what could be better than doing something that is a hobby of yours, and being your own boss??
So I decided to put my knowledge, experience and passion for picture framing to good use and started Award picture framing.
In 2004 we had our purpose built premisies renovated as a joint workshop/sales outlet.
We have invested heavily in new precision equipment from some of the top toolmakers, in our specially converted workshop, this includes.....
The Morso F mitre cutter, which has become the industry standard.
The first Morso F mitre cutters arrived in England in 1938 and the design is still virtually unchanged. The cutting blades of the Morso cutter will last 6 to 7 times longer than other cutters on the market. The Morso F mitre cutter is an excepionally accurate tool which leaves the cut surface perfectly smooth and ready for joining. A morso mitre cutter also allows dust free operation and wastage is substantially reduced compared with a mitre saw, which helps reduce the cost of the final product.
'Morso F mitre cutter'
We also have an Alfamacchines Minigraf A1M super.
"The Alfamacchine company was created in 1980 in a small garage in Forlì, Italy. From the beginning, weve focused on quality and technology when developing our products.Our mission has always been the same: develop and supply the highest quality and most technologically advanced products to the frame assembly industry. As a result, we have gained the leadership position in this industry and most of the largest frame manufacturers worldwide use our equipment exclusively." Quoted from Alfamacchine website.
'Alpha 1M Precision underpinner'
"The Ultimat Gold will meet the exacting requirements of the most skilled and creative picture framer and please the most critical engineer. It is tough, precise, built to last and exceptionally comfortable to use. The Ultimat Gold is a superb bench mounted mat cutter that will deliver top class performance for years and years.
The Ultimat Gold also accepts a very ingenious range of instant fit options to make it the most versatile mat cutter ever offered to a framer." quote from Keencut website.
Towards the end of 2007, the business had been showing steady growth, to the point where I had become snowed under with the volume of work. It was at this point I enlisted the help of my son to help cope with the rush leading up to Christmas. During this period we worked tirelessly to get all the orders out and to teach my son as much as I could in a short space of time.
In March of this year we decided to take things a step further, by setting up Award digital printing, which will run alongside our existing framing business.
Award digital printing offers a complete giclee printing service.