The Business of Turning Calligraphy into a Career

Hi! I’m Jill, Managing Director here at The Modern Calligraphy Company, and that’s Kirsten, my co-founder, working at an event over 20 years ago!

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When we started The Modern Calligraphy Company back in the late ’90s, things were very different. We’d go into stores for luxury brands, and the brief was clear: “Don’t write on the packaging, just pen a message on the stationery to slip inside the bag.”

Kirsten, ever the creative was already imagining ways to make the products themselves more personal. But in the beginning, change came slowly. With big companies, there are a lot of layers before new ideas are approved.

We kept showing samples, presenting possibilities, and little by little, we started meeting with global and UK marketing teams, bringing them tangible ideas they could touch, hold, and get excited about. Eventually, those ideas began to feature in their campaigns.

Some of our team on calligraphy artists at in-store events

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Today, we have a team of talented artists working across the country, from Cardiff to Edinburgh creating personalised designs directly on products and packaging for some of the world’s most recognisable brands.

My role has always been the business side: building relationships with brands, ensuring we deliver exactly what’s needed, and making sure our artists have the resources, briefs, and training to do their best work, whether they’re in a flagship London store or a boutique in Glasgow.

Kirsten brings the deep artistic expertise, she’s lived and breathed calligraphy since before we met, and she knows exactly how to make lettering shine on any surface. Together, we’ve developed a system that keeps our work consistent, creative, and client-ready.

Building a Career in Luxury Brand Calligraphy - An Online Course

Over the years, so many calligraphers have asked us how to get into this world. That’s why we designed our In-store Calligraphy course, to give you both sides of the picture: the artistry and the business.

Over three 2-hour live online sessions packed with the skills and insider knowledge you need to work at high-profile events and earn from your craft.

 I share:

• What really goes on behind the scenes of high-profile events

• How to understand and respond to a client brief

• Navigating brand guidelines, legal obligations, and setting rates

• Expert troubleshooting so you can avoid costly mistakes 

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Maisie covers:

• Adapting your style to match a client’s brief

• Creating product-perfect calligraphy under pressure

• Working on challenging surfaces and awkward objects

• Managing curious customers while you work live

• Social media and on-location photography tips to impress clients

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Maisie has worked as Kirsten’s right-hand gal for over a decade, running hundreds of high-profile events and delivering flawless calligraphy under pressure. She knows the course content inside out because she’s been helping shape and refine it for years, and now she leads the calligraphy side of the training herself.

Spaces are limited to ensure you receive personalised feedback. Secure your spot today; you could be joining our team and working at luxury brand events!

I’d love for you to join us, you can find out more by clicking the link.

In-store Calligraphy Training

Jill

Managing Director

The Modern Calligraphy Company