Spotlight on...


Les S Barber Specialist decorative painter and Artist


How long I have been a decorator? I completed my indentured apprenticeship with J Jarvis & Sons and achieved my Advanced Craft City & Guilds at Vauxhall College in London in 1983. I have since had two stints as a lecturer and head of construction at a number of Further Education Colleges, been a contracts manager for two large decorating firms and also a technical advisor with Muraspec. I also was a director of my own specialist decorating company for 10 years.


What is your specialist area? I have always been interested in the faux finishes and continue to develop my skills in a range of techniques including marbling, wood-graining, ashlar, murals and trompe l’oeil. Of late I’ve been doing a lot of hanging mural wallpapers.


How long have you been a member of the PDA? I have only recently joined the PDA and the London Association of Master Decorators, but looking forward to a long, productive relationship


Do I have any tips on maintaining a successful business? Be reliable, honest, flexible, polite, meticulous, considerate and clean. Know your products and keep abreast of the latest trends and keep updating your skill set


What would you say to encourage young people to become a painter and decorator? It is an industry that allows you to both work in a variety of fields and business sectors and use a wide range of skills. You can be equally successful in working as a member of a team for a company or as a sole- trader. It is a developing, changing industry and opportunities are there if you want to work and achieve them.


Which aspect of the industry do you find most rewarding? At the end of a job, when you present the finished job to a client and they see the results of your hard work, experience and skills in transforming their home and they say thank you.


Where do you think the industry is going in the future? I hope it will continue to be innovative with the products available and that organisations such as the PDA are able to raise the industry’s profile and the training and skill set of decorators across the country.


Are you currently training any apprentices? At the moment, no, but if my business continues to grow I will certainly look into taking on staff and someone that I can pass on some of the skills and experience I have gained.


What are the most annoying problems you encounter in your work? Clients that seem to think it’s acceptable to cancel a job at short notice and others that inform you of a change to the specification when you turn up to start on the first day


How do you advertise your business, and what do you think is the most effective way of keeping a full order book? I use a lot of social-media – Facebook, Linked-In, Google, Rated People etc and have a web-site that I update on a regular basis. I am always three months ahead booked and put this down to


providing a high level of service which includes; maintaining a good level of communication with the clients throughout the project, producing a prompt quote which is both clear and comprehensive, turning up on time and respecting the client’s property, having the confidence to offer advice on colour schemes and product selection, and leaving the project in a clean and improved condition.


Are you satisfied with the quality of new water-based paints? Yes. I use a lot of water-based products and I’m always on the look out to try out new products. I like to promote the use of water-based products to my clients and


inform them of the benefits they have like quick- drying, non-toxic and non-yellowing.


Les S Barber is a member of the PDA, call him on 07715 046822 or visit his website www.lsbdecorativepainting.co.uk


26 decorator


news from PDA members


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48