The Framing Department

Our framing is carried out to suit the requirements of your particular job. This includes a multitude of subjects such as prints, photographs, fabrics, original media (watercolour, oil, pastel etc.), 3-D items, sports shirts and memorabilia etc. There is very little that can't be framed these days. Please come and talk to us about your work, and we will explain what we can do and prepare a quote. We also hand finish mouldings (and occasionally mount boards) using paints and waxes to achieve some superb finishes.

Some clients know exactly what they’re after, whereas others haven’t any idea at all. There will be no pressure and no obligation to proceed whatsoever.

It is often possible to source specific materials for a specific job.  You could even supply your own paint which we can then apply to a moulding, and distress or wax etc.  The possibilities are extensive.

The Framing Department is a family owned and managed picture framing business based in Ventex House, on the Willowburn Trading Estate in Alnwick. Husband and wife team Mick and Amanda Davison work together to provide a friendly, high quality, bespoke picture framing service with easy public access  and parking.

Mick has been framing since 1986. He was joined by Amanda in early 2006 when they set up and opened The Old School Gallery in Alnmouth, before concentrating solely on picture framing again in 2014 and relocating to Alnwick in May 2015.

After 40 years of framing, I (Mick) have realised that i need a change and a rest.  The business has been sold to a very capable young fella called "Callum Barnes".  He is the new owner.  We've been working together since September 2025 and he's had a great start.  We've had some very nice work coming in.

We have a large selection of materials on display and in stock from which you can choose to frame your work. As always, advice can be given to help you decide which materials to use, but there is never only one way to frame  an item.  Ultimately we all have our own ideas, tastes and preferences, and every home is different.

Picture framing is a huge and varied business.  There is a wide variety of mouldings on the market which come from many manufacturers and suppliers :   oak, ash and other plain woods, black, white, coloured, silver and gilt etc. finishes in a host of profiles and widths.  

We use white core acid free mount board as standard and also stock several extra thick boards and black core boards.  We can also supply other specialist boards as and when required.

GLASS:

We currently stock 4 types of 2mm float glass :
- Standard clear.
- Standard non-reflective - with one acid etched face.
- UVP99 Art Glass - clear glass which cuts out 99% of harmful ultra-violet rays.
- AR70 Art Glass - a very high quality clear glass which cuts out 70% of harmful ultra-violet rays.  It has superb visual qualities maintaining colour of the framed work with anti-reflection qualities too.

The choice to make depends on the level of vision quality or UV light protection you require. We can also supply 3mm and oversize float glass (in excess of 4 feet in length) if required. Naturally, we cut our own glass, re-glaze framed works (after accidental damage for example) and supply glass for any other frames you may have.

MIRRORS :

In addition to glass we also supply cut to size 3mm and 4mm mirrors and standard sizes of bevelled edged mirrors.