Live Events and In-store Brand Activations
Engraving and Calligraphy on board Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 from Rome to Southampton - June 2023
2023 saw Delfont Ink go international!
I supplied live engraving services over three days at the Ralph Lauren boutique in Munich to celebrate their re-opening , and had a wonderful Christmas week 2023 back with Ralph Lauren as the final calligrapher in a team serving their Berlin boutique.
In June I joined Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 at Rome to supply live engraving, calligraphy and foiling services on board on a week’s cruise back to Southampton - a first for Cunard and for me. I returned to Cunard Line with the Queen Victoria this summer and was thrilled to be invited back for a Transatlantic Crossing on board Queen Mary 2 in September.
In addition to personalisation services, I also teach brush and nib calligraphy classes onboard.
2023 got off to a fabulous start with a return to my loyal client Dior, New Bond Street for Valentines events, my first engraving events for Liberty of London, live engraving at the launch of Versace’s Dylan Purple and four events for Armani Prive. I have completed other live events in Selfridges, John Lewis, Liberty, Harrods and Harvey Nichols and recently worked on a collaboration between Barbie and EMIJAY on release day of the Barbie Movie.
Another highlight this year was a return to engraving backstage at Letters Live at the Royal Albert Hall. My second year providing engravings for A-list celebrities in the Artists Bar.
I understand the importance of representing your brand appropriately in both demeanour and dress. I always check the brand’s dress requirements in advance, which is why you will see images of me looking quite different across my events.
The Service
Attract the attention of the in-store shopper by providing them with a one-of-a-kind bespoke service. Hand engraving, hand lettering or foiling can be used to personalise scented candles, perfume bottles, glassware, vodka, gin bottles or whisky bottles, leather luggage tags, gift boxes - even Christmas baubles - in contemporary or traditional styles for your customers.
Already hugely popular in America, personalisation services are becoming increasingly sought after by luxury brands in the UK.
I am an experienced event calligrapher and hand engraver in London and Surrey, available to hire for live events and commissions internationally. Brands I have worked for include Dior, Gucci, Versace, Armani, Christian Louboutin, Creed, Ralph Lauren, Jo Loves and Grey Goose. I have engraved whisky bottles for Jack Daniels, engraved scented candles for Jo Malone London and engraved perfume bottles for a multitude of clients. Others simply request calligraphied gift cards for their customers.
Over Nov / Dec 2021, I first joined the Fragrance team at the Dior flagship Boutique on New Bond Street, live engraving Dior Collection Privee and have, over the past two years completed over twenty live engraving events at the Boutique.
How it works
I am well equipped with fully charged small engraving drill (and back up) and light, with no power supply required, so can be sited wherever convenient for you whilst providing a luxury experience for your guests with no trailing wires or trip hazards.
The advantage of hand engraving services over machine engraving is that I can work with different shaped items and on curved surfaces and I can create a fully bespoke engraving, foiling or calligraphy service for your client. If they would prefer a short quote or personalised message instead of just a name, no problem! If they would like me to add a floral decoration or a heart, I can do that. The date of their birthday or anniversary to make the engraving or message truly bespoke? My pleasure.
I have recently added hand foiling to my services where calligraphy is applied with heat onto foil which adheres to leather or card surfaces - ideal for personalised notebooks, leather tags, passport holders etc.
I always enjoy engaging with customers to deliver both the agreed brief with the brand and the customer’s personalised design with the end result being a product to treasure forever.
Do contact me directly for a calm, confident, professional and friendly service, working with you to provide pointed pen work, brush calligraphy, modern calligraphy hand engraving or foiling at events in the UK or further afield.
My rate starts from £80 an hour (£85 for engraving and foiling) with a minimum charge of four hours.
Day rates are available upon request.
“Claire was a joy to work with for the prestigious Letters Live 10th Anniversary Event at the Royal Albert Hall. She elegantly engraved bottles for the VIP crowd backstage which included Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman and Stephen Fry. Claire is not only extremely talented but charming, and dealt with the celebrities at ease in a wonderfully professional manner.”
“It was an absolute pleasure to have Claire with us in the boutique - her engraving skills are without doubt the best I have seen over years of engraving events that I have hosted whilst working for the brand. She effortlessly engaged with each of our customers, showing interest for each and every item that was to be engraved as well as making recommendations to suit each product. She is charming, professional and looks the part. We would be delighted to have her in store with us again. ”
“Claire is an amazing artist. Her skills not only exceed any engraving I have seen before but also her professionalism is beyond what I could have expected. Whilst in the Boutique she not only engraved but used her amazing calligraphy skills to create gift cards for clients. She settled in easily and clients loved not only seeing her amazing work in action, but also she engaged with everyone and made her skill an animation to itself. She delivered an impeccable service which was an incredible outcome for us. I would certainly recommend Claire for any event.”
“It is always a pleasure working with Claire. She always brings her cheerful spirit when visiting the House of Dior. Her work has been nothing short of perfection, we look forward to continuing our relationship with her and would highly recommend her. ”
“Claire is a pleasure to work with. We hired Claire to create personalised engravings for our latest media event - she was responsive, efficient and her work was amazing! Our guests loved it and wouldn’t stop posting about it. I would definitely recommend. ”
“Claire worked in my boutique for our Father’s Day Event and Christmas Event 2022. Her presentation was immaculate, her manner was professional but also down to earth, our customers and team alike loved her and I can’t wait to work with Claire again in the near future. I would 100% recommend Claire for her services.”
“We commissioned Claire to engrave individual names on metal at a live event and what a job she did. We were so impressed; she crafted her skills so deftly and with the utmost consideration and sensitivity to our client’s environment. Claire is the consummate professional - not phased by any of our demands, she ensured an important day in our client’s calendar was memorable.”
“It was an absolute pleasure to meet you and thank you once again for attending our event and for your amazing and efficient service on the night. It was an incredible event and your service was a massive part of its success, so thank you from the whole Franklin & Sons Team.”
Live event engraving on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 on a transatlantic crossing - October 2023
Event Calligraphy and Event Engraving Gallery below:
