Frame Factory

Although this shop looks unsurprising and without any character whatsoever the shop itself «does what it says on the tin» to coin a phrase. Specialising in custom frames and framing of all descriptions, they also do canvas stretching to frames and sell artwork, sculptures, jewelry and random items.
Local experts that cater to your needs doesn’t come cheap though and you could be forgiven for thinking that, the service is overpriced but represents the fact that you know there are going to be no mistakes face to face.
If someone said to me they were going to frame a print or get a canvas made I think I would show them the frame factory and then tell them the price afterward.

If you need something framed, these are local experts and will do a good job.
Apart from selling a wide range of picture frames and offering a professional framing service, this shop also offers canvas printing and stretching, mount cutting, and 3D and box framing.
It’s a family owned business run by Christopher Reynolds who has over 20 years experience in the picture framing industry.
The shop doesn’t have a very arty feel about it from the outside — in fact it appears quite dated thanks to the rather old-​fashioned blue and yellow sign design. But this shop is less of a gallery and more of a practical framing specialist. It’s true that you can buy art works and prints there, but it’s their excellent framing service they’re best known for.
Once inside, you can browse around their fine art, jewellery, glassware, limited edition sculptures and other art works.
Although their website also features a gallery of some of the art they have stocked or currently stock, and says you can buy online, each item I looked at an item it said «Catalog suspended» underneath it, with no obvious means of purchasing the item. I think it’s always better to come face to face with a piece of art before buying it anyway, though, so I’d rather drop into the shop on City Road than buy it online even if the shop was working!

When I bought my first flat I searched all round for the type of pictures I wanted to hang within it to represent my personality and tell people what I was really all about deep within — OK i was younger and more impressionable.
Anyway I bought a Salvidor Dali print from the Tate Modern in London thinking, yes this is what I’m all about, surreal and sophisticated! Perfect for my flat.
When I got home I looked for a local framer and that happened to be the Frame Factory. I went along picked the frame I wanted and it was done within days. It was a lovely quality frame and stylistically it really set the picture off. It was smart but understated so as not to detract from the picture. The only problem was the price. It cost me £70! That’s more than the print!
Never the less years later it still looks good and when I look at it I still see the frame as much as the picture.
So the morale of the story is — if you have a picture worth a lot of money and want it set in a new frame come here. If you have a print that doesn
t cost that much, buy a frame from IKEA or some where and frame t yourself.
By the way the website also features new artists.