Was Your First Work Vehicle Really A Shopping Trolley?
35 Years on!
The rumours are TRUE! The story so far …
1st June 1990, after a stint at art college, I began decorating out of necessity to earn a crust. Starting out with a friend, with not much cash between us, our very first decorating job was to paint the inside of a local restaurant in Morecambe town centre. Being resourceful young men, we borrowed a Tesco trolley and trundled our materials across town in earnest. With the money we earned we bought our first cheap van … a Daihatsu …. which quickly overheated and died … filling the cab with steam, while we sat in stunned silence. :0
Then we borrowed a 1970’s mini clubman (named Mimi) from a friend, with a bundle of character including a rusty door that fell off its hinges - on more than one occasion a bemused customer had to hitch it back in place and wave me off home. (We hand painted Mimi to disguise the rust)
LOOKING BACK
Continuing on my own, I did some grotty jobs in the past to pay the bills , and have plenty more stories for the memoirs one day! But with an artistic urge to incorporate traditional skills into my work, I undertook additional training. I’m very grateful to have kept working through various economic ups and downs, learning a lot on the way, and building up a successful business through a high standard of service and attention to detail - with the many new customers coming through recommendation.
A TURNING POINT - Becoming an Approved Lincrusta Installer and Restorer, with advanced level training from Lincrusta, was a catalyst to start specialising more in heritage decorating and incorporate traditional skills such as gilding and wood-graining into my work. I love working with Lincrusta wallcoverings, combining my passion for the product and an eye for colour with optional decorative finishes, to create distinctive decorative features ranging from feature walls, boutique bedrooms, bar fronts, dado panelling and more - the possibilities are endless!
LOOKING FORWARD
From our 1990 beginnings Frank Holmes Fine Decor has evolved into a heritage decorating and restoration specialist. Amanda is now very much involved with the business, managing the admin and our growing archive collection. Together we continue on an exciting journey of discovery, with an appreciation for the history behind raised relief wallcoverings which emerged during the Arts and Crafts era. We are passionate about saving and restoring vintage designs that are no longer in production, and intrigued to discover more about the original craftsmanship and designers of yesteryear. I am able to replicate these pre-war discontinued patterns to make repairs or reinstate period features. I love restoring original features to former glory.
In recognition of his ongoing work in the industry, Frank was proud to be invited to become a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers in 2024. Most recently, Frank Holmes Fine Décor co-founded and organised the first Home Interiors & Renovation Exhibition (HIRE Cumbria) in March 2025. This two-day event brought together specialist trades, innovative designers and property experts from in and around Cumbria all under one roof.
In recent years we’ve worked on some fantastic renovation projects, including the repair of a Victorian Anaglypta high relief ceiling, the reinstatement of this Victorian Lincrusta dado panelling over a blocked up doorway, and repairing and refinishing several historic Tynecastle Tapestry embossed canvas wallpapers at Langdale Chase Hotel, Windermere. More exciting restoration projects are in the pipeline, enabling me to specialise more, which is very satisfying!
COMING SOON
Watch out for the launch of our very special ‘Heritage Collection’, a range of limited edition wall art, and heritage relief panels from yesteryear, including Parisian Art Nouveau and Art Deco!
