Hand Lettering Services

Hand Lettering Shaped by History, Culture, and Place

Hand lettering is the part of my work that connects words and images. I use it to give titles and labels their own character, so they feel woven into the illustration instead of floating on top. Whether it’s a map, a sign, or a piece of packaging, the lettering helps set the tone - it tells you where you are, what kind of story you’re in, and what mood to expect.

A collage of hand-lettered place names in varied typographic styles and colours, illustrated by Anna Simmons, showing the range of lettering used across her illustrations.

Examples of location-name lettering drawn from my map work - shaped by history, culture, and place.

Expressive lettering that connects words, stories, and places
My hand lettering grows out of what I see and collect: old signs, packaging, and bits of print that have lived a life.
I study these discovered letterforms and build something new from them - alphabets with quirks, style rules, and personalities
The result is lettering that feels like it belongs somewhere real - not smooth and new, but shaped by history, culture, and place.
Every title or word I create carries its own atmosphere, fitting naturally beside my illustrations or standing on its own.

Lettering with history, texture, and a life of its own

Here are a few projects where my hand lettering played a central role - from shaping titles to defining moods

Hand Lettered Swing Tag for Royal Museums Greenwich

I hand lettered the words “London and Greenwich by Anna Simmons” for a merchandise range at Royal Museums Greenwich. The lettering appears on biscuit tubes, mugs, tote bags, and swing tags, drawing on vintage styles for a heritage feel that’s still fresh and lively.

Orange and yellow heritage-inspired hand lettering shaped by history, culture, and place on a royal blue background reading “London and Greenwich by Anna Simmons”, illustrated by Anna Simmons.

The original hand-lettered artwork I created for the merchandise and packaging. The lettering is shaped by history, culture, and place, drawing on vintage styles and maritime-inspired motifs to give each piece a distinctive, heritage-inspired character.

A selection of items from the merchandise range showing how my hand lettered design adapts across different sizes and formats - from mugs and tote bags to biscuit tins, swing tags and packaging sleeves. The lettering becomes a unifying visual identity for the collection, almost like a bespoke logo.

The bold, memorable lettering helped the products stand out, giving visitors a little piece of Greenwich to take home.

See the full project here: Souvenir Product Illustrations for National Museums.

Letters that connect instantly

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Add personality to every word

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Express ideas with a human touch

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Letters that connect instantly - Add personality to every word - Express ideas with a human touch -

Illustrated Story Told Through Hand Lettering

Storyboard by Anna Simmons showing hand-lettered title “MORE than just a MEAL” with interactive lettering and illustrations highlighting the word “LIVERPOOL,” combining narrative, wordplay, and visual storytelling in blue, green and orange

Custom hand lettering and illustration lettering combine to create dynamic, narrative-driven visuals, showing how letters and imagery can guide the reader and add character to commissioned projects.

For a self-initiated contribution to an independent magazine on food and community, I created a storyboard that tells a story entirely through hand lettering and illustrated storytelling: no typed text.

Sometimes the lettering drives the narrative. Sometimes it interacts with the imagery. Sometimes it shows acted-out scenes. Every word is placed carefully so it’s easy to read and engaging. It draws readers in, makes them look closer, and helps the story click instantly.

This kind of custom hand lettering combined with illustration makes words feel alive. It guides readers to the important parts, keeps them enjoying the story, and makes it stick in their memory.

Through this project, I show how custom hand lettering integrated with illustration can guide the audience to important points, and keep them enjoying the story, while making it stick in their memory. Using this hybrid approach gives your message a unique personality and energy.

See the full project here.

Title Hand Lettering for Reader’s Digest

Open book showing a title page featuring hand lettered “SOUTHEAST” in yellow and turquoise by Anna Simmons. The lettering sits over sticker-style illustrations, including a dolphin, an orange, and a parasol, set against a bright blue sky background.

Bespoke hand lettering within illustrations. The yellow “SOUTHEAST” lettering sits over playful, sticker-style illustrations, showing how I deliver integrated hand lettering illustration services that are research-informed, visually engaging, and full of personality.

I created hand lettered titles for four regional books for Reader’s Digest’s Great American Road Trips. Each needed to stand out over landscape photos while following the art direction for that volume. The theme in this example was: old-school sticker-sheets.

Working on this project, I enjoyed researching and adapting my lettering approach to reference different historical hand lettering styles. Even when working in a specific style, my letters always carry my own hand - so clients get work that fits their brief while still feeling distinctly handcrafted and full of personality. This approach ensures that the custom lettering connects with readers, giving each project a unique voice and a warmth that draws people in.

You can see other hand lettered titles from this project here

Hand Lettered Headline for Atlanta Magazine Double-Page Spread

As an illustrator who hand letters, I can weave words directly into scenes so they become part of the visual story. In this double-page spread, the hand lettered headline does double duty: it looks like part of the scene and carries key information for the reader.

I created a bird’s-eye view of the Gulf of Mexico coastline, with a plane pulling a swirling banner that carries the title. The lettering and illustration work together, guiding the eye, giving the page movement, and shaping how the audience takes in the scene.

Southern US coastline with bold, colorful hand-lettered headline “The Ultimate Guide to the Gulf”, illustrated by Anna Simmons

Integrated hand lettering: woven into the illustration, it guides the eye across a lively coastal scene while announcing the subject in an eye-catching way.

Hand lettering for titles, labels, and headings

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Custom lettering for packaging products and merchandise

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Expressive text integrated with visuals

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Hand lettering for titles, labels, and headings - Custom lettering for packaging products and merchandise - Expressive text integrated with visuals -

Hand Lettered Donor Communications Illustration for Marie Curie

I hand lettered a full page for a Marie Curie supporter publication, putting the title Here, There and Everywhere over an illustration of the UK. The hand lettering draws you in and sets the tone for the feature that follows - it lets reader know that they’ll be reading about the good work nurses do, without the focus being on hard or sad topics.

The imagery gives context, but the lettering is what makes the page welcoming and warm, encouraging readers to explore the content. By uniting all the different story threads in a single visual, the design helps the charity connect with supporters and makes the publication more engaging and readable.

Photograph of an open donor booklet, cropped to show one page featuring hand-lettered title artwork by Anna Simmons reading “Here, There and Everywhere” over an illustrated map of the UK.

Hand lettering doesn’t have to sit still - the flowing title adds movement and energy to the opening page.

Custom Title Lettering for Print Materials

I created a hand lettering design for the title on printed handouts for a coastal business on the Isle of Wight. Being an illustrator who hand letters, I designed the words and images to work together: the handmade letters signal care and individuality, so people instantly sense that the place itself offers the same kind of attention and warmth.

The lettering on the front hints that illustrated content waits inside, inviting people to pick it up and look closer. It helps the piece stand out, giving it a tailored, handcrafted feel before a single word is read.

Photograph of printed collateral promoting an Isle of Wight business, showing a hand-lettered title surrounded by spot illustrations by Anna Simmons.

If it’s in it… it should be on it. The hand lettering on the cover hints at the illustrated world inside.

Used by heritage organisations, publishers, and creative studios

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Enhancing visibility and memorability for projects

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Helping brands communicate with character

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Used by heritage organisations, publishers, and creative studios - Enhancing visibility and memorability for projects - Helping brands communicate with character -

Why people come to me for hand lettering:

Character with Charm

Historically inspired, softly irregular lettering that feels human, handmade, and full of personality.
Atmosphere You Can Feel

Drawing on vintage references and cultural details to set tone and place: research-led, but never heavy-handed.
Letters That Carry Meaning

Every choice supports the message: thoughtful, emotional, and rooted in history, culture, and place.

Need an illustrator who can hand letter - or a hand lettering artist who can illustrate?

Let’s create something that’s as expressive in words as it is in pictures.

Create Together