About Annette Reed SHA

I have been a calligrapher for the best part of 35 years, and since 2011, I have worked professionally as a freelance calligrapher.

I was fortunate enough to be taught by a renowned calligrapher at school, Peter Halliday.  He introduced me to this beautiful art, gave me a solid foundation of the intricacies and skills needed to master calligraphy, and I have been writing ever since.

From leaving school, I worked in an art studio writing the Books of Remembrance then worked as an Auditor for DFS furniture for 23 years, still keeping calligraphy as my hobby.  There then came a junction in my life and I decided to follow my dream of becoming a full-time, self-employed calligrapher.

In 2012 I was accepted to work as a calligrapher to the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. I began writing in the Public Registers, on traditional vellum, which record all the Arms and Bearings that have been granted by the Court and date back to 1672. Then in 2015 I was introduced to the art of Heraldry. I design coats of arms granted by the Court and produce an official detailed document for the petitioner which includes both calligraphy and artwork of the arms. In addition to this, I am a Scribe (calligrapher) to the Order of the Thistle and have written many official documents for and on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, including appointments for Nicola Sturgeon, MSP, First Minister, The Lord Lyon King of Arms, Lords Lieutenant, Commissioners for the Church of Scotland and all appointed Scottish Queen’s Counsels.

I inscribe many memorial books, namely for Falkirk Crematorium, Clydebank Crematorium, Edinburgh University, The University of Aberdeen and also the Hero Fund Roll of Honour for the Carnegie Trust in Dunfermline. Other clients include The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Diageo, Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland, Molton Brown and Scotrail.

My work has appeared in a music video, been used for an album cover and has been enlarged and put on a wall of a conference centre. I have also been filmed writing by BBC Scotland for a BBC Two documentary, have made a brief appearance on BBC Radio Scotland and featured in The Courier newspaper.

To continually develop new skills and keep my calligraphy fresh and new, I attend professional workshops and I am also a member of the Calligraphy Lettering Arts Society (CLAS), Mercian Scribes and West Lothian Scribes. In 2017 I was accepted as a Craft Member of the Society of Heraldic Arts.

I have three cats and a wee Papillon pup called Darley who all keep me company throughout the day. I enjoy our many dog walks, gardening and bird watching.  I love taking photographs of the stunning scenery and wildlife around us, not forgetting taking lots of photos of the pets too!