THE ancient art of pub signwriting is alive and well in Devizes where, in a corner of its stableyard in Northgate Street, Wadworth and Co has a signwriting and paint shop that produces artwork for 40 of its pubs every year.

Computer technology rarely plays a part in it. The skills displayed by the staff at Northgate Street would be recognisable to signwriters of 100 or even 200 years ago.

Paul Martin joined Wadworth in 1977 as an HGV driver but approached the then head of the paint shop, Chris Hall, for a job there. He has never looked back.

When Mr Hall left to become a freelance designer, Mr Martin took over the reins and now heads a small team that creates the signs from scratch, cutting the wooden designs, giving them a coat of primer, undercoat and two coats of gloss before the real artistry takes place.

He said: "We do it all, from construction to fixing the finished signs to the pub. From start to finish it would normally take three weeks. And it is all done free hand. No computer graphics or Electraset letters are used."

It is thought that the paint shop at Northgate Street is one of the last because most brewers contract out their signwriting.

Eighteenth century artisans would recognise most of the tools of the trade.

Gold leaf is used by the bookful. Most of the lettering for the signs is gilded and, at least at the moment, there is no substitute for the real McCoy.

Mr Martin said: "When you see it in the sunlight it really glows. And it does make a difference. People are more likely to go into a pub that has an attractive outside and the pub sign is advertising, after all."

Chris Hall still retains his connections with Wadworth by designing the concept for each pub on a freelance basis.

Another freelancer often to be found at Northgate Street is artist David Young, who specialises in the pictorial signs which hang outside the pub.

Trained in photography, he has a natural feel for composition and, with library research, sums up the history and legend of each pub in an eye-catching way.

He first worked for Wadworth when the company was asked to do the signage for the Red Lion at Lacock. Mr Martin recognised his talent and he has been working regularly for the firm ever since.

The paint used is lead-based to withstand the weather and is imported from America.

Woodwork for the signs is done by Bob Golding, who has been working for Wadworth's for more than 20 years.

He cuts the wood to size and prepares it for painting. Each pub has its own design and signs are retouched on a regular basis, even those on toilet doors.

The youngest member of the team at the paint shop is 24-year-old Wayne Ritchings. He started with a week's work experience at the shop while still at Devizes School.

He studied graphic design but started from scratch on traditional skills needed when he began working for Wadworth.