byUMBERTO is the studio of Robert ‘Umberto’ Walker*- artist, artisan & educator based in Marsden, UK. Passionate about typography, craft, detail and keeping heritage skills alive, Robert started out as a sign writer and mural painter- what was once known as a ‘decorator’.
        Today Robert's focus is not just on learning from the best (and sometimes the last) in their field, but believes in finding and using the tools once used by masters of their trade, to stay true to these heritage skills. A lifelong learner & teacher, he is also a zealous advocate of sharing his expertise through ongoing workshops, lectures & community engagement, and is always looking for new ways to inspire others.
        Trained in a multitude of craft techniques, Robert's speciality is in the art of Verre Églomisé, which involves painstakingly painting a design and applying gold leaf onto the rear face of glass, once a commonly-used technique for signage, now an at-risk heritage skill.
        Now Robert brings all of his experience and obsession together to create high-end pieces from the byUMBERTO studio, for exteriors, interiors, and collectors, and is increasingly exploring the creation of contemporary art pieces using traditional sign-writing methods.

*The story of how Robert got his ‘middle’ name is a long one, and one day you might be lucky enough to hear it (and many others) from the man himself.