Today we’d like to introduce you to Zephren Turner.
Hi Zephren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Artform Signs is a custom sign studio in Roanoke, Virginia, run by husband-and-wife team Zephren and Page Turner. We make signs, murals, dimensional lettering, public-facing art, and restorations for the businesses and places that give our community its character.
We came to this work from the art world, but we have always loved that a sign has a job to do. It has to be beautiful, readable, durable, and feel true to the people behind it. Zephren studied illustration at SCAD and spent ten years as Head of Production at Blue Ridge Sign & Stamp. Page is a fine artist and sculptor with a wonderful instinct for color, composition, and the handmade details that make a project feel alive. Together, we found that our best work lives right at the meeting point of art and business.
Artform grew out of the belief that a storefront, a neighborhood marker, or a mural can be more than an advertisement. It can become part of the place. We love helping a new business make a memorable first impression, but we are equally drawn to restoring a weathered old sign that people have quietly loved for decades. Roanoke has been home to Zephren for most of his life, and working here means we get to help shape the visual character of the city and the surrounding communities we care about.
Our days can range from hand-painting and gold leafing to carving dimensional signs, designing wall graphics, or standing in a lift beside a very large mural. It is never boring, and we would not have it any other way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the ongoing challenges, and one of the things we enjoy most, is that every project is entirely custom. Each client comes to us with a different story, space, budget, and set of practical needs. Our job is to listen closely and find the sweet spot where the design feels special, the materials will last, and the project makes sense for the time and budget available.
There is also a great deal of problem-solving behind every project: materials, weather, permitting, installation, budgets, engineering, and the occasional surprise hiding inside an old sign. As a two-person studio, we wear a lot of hats. But that is also one of our strengths. The same people who listen to a client’s story and design the work are often the people making and installing it. That closeness helps us care about every detail.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Artform Signs, we create custom signs and visual artwork for businesses, organizations, and community spaces. Our work includes hand-painted and gold-leaf signs, carved wood and HDU signs, dimensional lettering, sign restoration, murals, wall graphics, banners, and the smaller details that help a business feel finished and recognizable.
Because Page and I are both working artists, we approach each project as more than a production job. We begin by listening: What is this business trying to say? What feeling should people have when they arrive? Then we design and build something that is clear, durable, and full of character.
We especially love work with a sense of place, whether that means bringing an old neighborhood sign back to life, creating a new landmark for a growing business, or painting a mural that adds color and conversation to a familiar wall. The best part is seeing a finished piece become part of people’s everyday landscape.
What’s next?
We want Artform Signs to keep growing in a way that stays personal and artist-led. We are especially excited to take on more sign restorations, carved and dimensional work, gold leaf, murals, and projects that help preserve the character of Roanoke’s older neighborhoods and businesses.
We also want to keep making room for community art. We love projects that invite people to stop, look around, take a photo, or feel a little more connected to where they live. The hope is that Artform continues to be known not just for making signs, but for making work that gives a place a little more personality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artformsignsllc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093113959230
