Alex May Hughes is a sign painter and glass gilder based in West London. She graduated from The London College of Communication in 2012, where she studied Typographics, developing her interest in traditional Victorian signage and mirrors. After her graduation Hughes began an apprenticeship with the acclaimed London sign writer Pete Hardwicke, picking up a particular enthusiasm for working with gold leaf on glass. After her apprenticeship Hughes has been working almost exclusively with precious metals on glass. Her first solo show took place at Gallery 223 in London in 2014, with a second solo show at 71a Gallery in 2016. Her third solo show was held at Mother London in November 2018.
She has also shown at numerous group shows including; Somerset House, KK Outlet, Chicago Art Department, BSMT Space, Soho Revue and Jealous East.
Hughes has undertaken a number of large scale commissions, including bespoke shop signs for Palm Vaults (Mare Street) and Tessa Metcalfe jewellers (Laystall Street).
She was also commissioned by Penguin Books to re-design the cover of ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett as part of their Essentials Collection. She has worked on projects for Sony ATV, Urban Outfitters Sheet magazine, Warner Brothers records, The Times Arts, Bombay Sapphire, Stylist Magazine, Choose Love, The Design Museum, Pikes, Verdant brewery, Guinness and IDLES.