★ Bishop's Castle · Market Square · since 2016 · one bench, one maker

The framer at the top of Market Square.

Bamber Hawes has spent forty years making things, furniture, models, sets, props, and since 2016 framing has been the work. Wood or metal, a mount cut to the millimetre, the right glass for the wall it hangs on. Bring a print, a painting, a stitched piece or a box of medals to 16 Market Square and it is framed by the person who answers the phone.

Ask about a frame See the work

2016framing, full time

40 yrsof making things

1 benchthe maker frames it

Any jobflat, deep or awkward

The Bamber the Framer shopfront at 16 Market Square, Bishop's Castle, an oxblood fascia with cream lettering and two red elephants, Bamber standing outside in a leather apron — 16 Market Square · Bishop's Castle At the top of the steep street, the oxblood front with the two elephants.

WHAT COMES TO THE BENCH

Four kinds of job, off one bench.

Bespoke picture framing

Prints, paintings, photographs and posters, framed to suit the piece and the budget. Wood or metal mouldings, mount board cut to size, and the right glass for where it will hang. Thousands of frames made since 2016.

Textiles and memorabilia

Cross-stitch, embroidery, tapestry, sports shirts, medals and three-dimensional keepsakes. Stretched, spaced off the glass and box-framed so the object sits proud, not squashed. All types and all sizes.

Artists and exhibitions

A discount for artists framing their own work, and cut mounts for prints with backing board, wrapped in cellophane and ready for the browser at a show. Bring a stack and we will price the batch.

Repair, restore, re-size

Damaged and old gilt frames repaired, and a frame that no longer fits cut down and re-used rather than replaced. Often the kinder option for something with a history, and the cheaper one.

And a sideline most framers do not offer: old slides, cine film, VHS, camcorder tape and cassettes transferred to DVD, USB or audio CD, through a specialist Bamber works with. Drop the box in with the framing.

FROM THE WORKSHOP

A few that have hung on the wall.

See India, deco poster Travel poster, oak moulding with a deep-red, gold and slate triple mount.

Cross-stitch, box framed A stitched cottage, spaced off the glass in a navy box frame with a cream mount.

Float-mounted artwork A chevron piece built from old book spines, float-mounted in a natural oak tray.

THE MAKER · FORTY YEARS

Not a framing chain. A maker who frames.

Bamber trained as a 3D designer in the early eighties and spent the decades after making furniture, prototypes, architectural models, then sets and props as an art director. He brought the workshop to Bishop's Castle in 2005, and in 2016 framing became the main thing.

That history is the difference. A plinth for a sculpture, a deep box for an object, an oval mount, a textile stretched and spaced off the glass, the jobs other framers turn away are the ones he likes. He frames his own artwork too, shown in Shropshire, Powys and at the Submarine Gallery in London.

“I have done all sorts of design and making over the last forty years, and I like a challenge.” Bamber Hawes

1979 Bamber trains as a 3D designer, specialising in furniture design and manufacture.

1997 Founds his own studio for bespoke furniture, model making, set and prop work.

2005 Brings the workshop to Bishop’s Castle, at the top of the steep Market Square.

2016 Picture framing becomes the main business. Thousands of frames since.

Today One bench, one maker, at 16 Market Square. Wood or metal, never a job turned away for being awkward.

The Bamber the Framer workbench, a green cutting mat with two corner moulding samples, stacked mount board and tools — The bench, mid-job Corner samples, mount board and a piece waiting to be framed.

MOUNTS, GLASS & THE AWKWARD JOB

How far to take it is your call.

A mount is not just a border. Cut to the millimetre, it lifts the work off the glass and keeps acid away from it. Single, double or multi-aperture, circular or oval, in conservation board where the piece deserves it.

For objects and textiles we use spacers and float mounts so nothing is pressed flat against the glass, and a deep box frame where the thing needs room. Glass to suit the wall, clear for most, non-reflective where there is glare, UV where daylight would fade it.

Conservationacid-free board and backing, made to last
Float mountthe work lifted to cast its own shadow
Box framedepth and spacers for objects and textiles
Shaped mountscircular and oval apertures, cut by hand
Everydaya sensible frame at a sensible price

ASK ABOUT A FRAME

Tell us what you have. We will talk it through.

Send a short note for a rough idea by email, or better, bring the piece up to Market Square. The proper price is set at the bench, once we can see the work, the size and what it needs to keep it safe.

A rough idea by email or text to start
The real quote at the bench, when we see the piece
Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 to 4
A quick call or text first, it is a one-person workshop

VISIT · MARKET SQUARE

At the top of the hill.

The workshop

16 Market Square
Bishop's Castle
Shropshire SY9 5BN

Phone · 07957 667 847

Email · info@bambertheframer.co.uk

Getting here · the top of the steep main street, near the 1760 Town Hall

MondayBy arrangement
TuesdayBy arrangement
Wednesday09:00 to 16:00
Thursday09:00 to 16:00
Friday09:00 to 16:00
SaturdayBy arrangement
SundayClosed

A one-person workshop, so a quick call or text first is wise. If Wednesday to Friday does not suit, ring and we will find a time that does.

16 Market Square, Bishop's Castle SY9 5BN. At the top of the hill, near the Town Hall and the Three Tuns. Open in Google Maps ↗

FAQ

Questions we get at the counter.

Will you frame something unusual, a shirt, medals, an object?

Yes. Textiles, sports shirts, medals and three-dimensional keepsakes are some of the most satisfying jobs. We stretch the piece, space it off the glass and box-frame it so it sits proud. Bring it in and we will work out how best to hold it.

Can you repair an old frame, or cut one down, instead of making new?

Often, yes. We repair damaged and gilt frames, and a frame that no longer fits can be cut down and re-used. For something with a history that is usually the kinder choice, and the cheaper one.

I am an artist with several pieces to frame. Is there a trade price?

There is a discount for artists framing their own work, and we cut mounts for prints with a backing board, wrapped in cellophane, ready for the browser at an exhibition. Bring the batch and we will price it together.

Can you put old slides, cine film or VHS onto a DVD or USB?

Yes. We work with a specialist company that transfers slides, cine film, VHS, camcorder tape and cassettes to DVD, USB and audio CD. Drop the box of old media in with the framing and it comes back digital.

When are you open, and should I call first?

Usually Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 to 4. It is a one-person workshop, so a quick call or text before you come makes sure the door is open. If those hours do not suit, ring and we will find a time that does.