FAQ’s

Frequent Questions

Have your questions about Calligraphy, our policies, prices and deliveries answered here.

Click on a question and the answer will appear below it.
If you have any questions that aren’t on this page, then please contact me and I’ll do my best to help you.

Calligraphy Questions

What is Calligraphy?

Calligraphy is the art of writing script in such a way as to express the beauty of what is being written in the formation of the letters themselves.

Calligraphy claims ancient roots in the first recorded forms of expression: the cave paintings of our ancestors some 25,000-30,000 years ago. Eventually this form of pictorial communication became stylized around 3500 B.C. with the development of Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Phoenicians followed circa 1000 B.C. with one of the earliest alphabets — an entirely different writing system in that each symbol represented a sound rather than an idea or picture. The Phoenician alphabet was adopted and modified by many peoples, including the Greeks. The Romans picked up the Greek alphabet and adapted it to suit Latin.

Latin brings us to the beginnings of what many people think of as modern calligraphy. It was the language of the all-powerful churches of the Middle Ages when monks were among the only literate members of society. One of their tasks was committing the word of God to paper, by scribing ancient texts into ornamental volumes to be read by holy elite and royalty. The monks infused the script with a flourishing style that would add glory to the letters themselves as if to make the inscriptions worthy of the holy words they were conveying. The style was also economically narrow to save expensive paper. It became known as Gothic and was the original form of European calligraphy as we think of it today.

What styles of calligraphy can you do?

I currently offer eight different styles:

  • Uncial
  • Round Hand
  • New Modern
  • French Ronde
  • Copperplate
  • Flourished Italic
  • Basic Gothic
  • Basic Italic

All these can be seen on my calligraphy styles page

How much does your calligraphy work cost?

Since every job or commission is unique, I prefer to discuss all the details with you first, then provide you with an estimate which can be agreed upon. My aim is to make you happy rather than present you with a surprise bill at the end of the job.

Why not call me on 0116 2331850 or 07818 250605 for a quick discussion about your requirements. We can then more accurately define prices and timescales for your calligraphy work.

How long does a bespoke artwork order take to process?

Generally orders take two weeks, but I do I prefer to have six weeks notice (miracles have been known to happen!).

I can provide much quicker times but this will incur a premium cost which would be discussed at the time of ordering. Please contact me to discuss things further.

How long does a card order take to process?

For standard cards – no more than 2 two days from receipt of order to putting in the post box. I always try to post 1st Class via Royal Mail and will let you know via email once it has been posted.

If you have asked for a personalised card or for it to be written inside etc, then these will normally be posted to you within 5 days of receipt of the order. Please take this into account when ordering your cards.

If you need an order to be processed urgently, then you should contact me before ordering.

Can you do rush orders?

Of course I can, but they may incur an extra premium cost. I normally like to have six weeks notice for large orders such as wedding invitations, so please bear this in mind when ordering. Please contact me with your specific deadlines and I will do my best to work within your schedule.

Payment Questions

How do I pay online?

Credit and debit card payments are securely processed by PayPal and Stripe.

You do not need a PayPal account, just a credit or debit card. Many of our customers already have PayPal accounts. Calligraphy Arts customers are not required to hold an account with our online payment providers in order to use their secure payment facilities.

To ensure your complete security, your online transactions are processed securely by PayPal and Stripe’s websites for all online payments. Calligraphy Arts does not collect any credit card data, as this is all handled securely with PayPal and Stripe’s own servers and systems.

Offline payments are also taken such as Cheque and BACS. Simply call or email us with your order details.

How secure is my credit card?

Our payment providers allow you to buy our goods online in a safe and secure way. Credit card numbers are securely processed using a minimum of 128 bit encryption by PayPal and Stripe. They are not held by calligraphyarts.co.uk nor in clear text on any web site, so you can be sure of our secure commitment to you.

We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any 3rd parties.

Can I pay by cheque or money order?

Yes, we understand that not everyone can use online payments which is why we can also take payments by cheque. If you wish to pay this way, then simply select the appropriate option at the checkout. All details of how to send us your payment will be displayed and emailed to you.

Your order will be despatched as soon as your funds have cleared through the banking system.

Please contact me if you would like more information on any of our payment methods.

Can I pay by Bank Transfer or Bank Wire?

Yes you can. Select the “Pay By Bank Wire” option at the checkout, confirm your order and the next page will show you the bank payment details you need to use.

You can also use these details if you wish to order from us offline:

IBAN code: GB22 BARC 2049 0863 1475 09
SWIFT code: BARCGB22
Barclays Bank
Account Name: Calligraphy Arts
Sort Code: 20-49-08
Account Number: 63147509

Calligraphy Arts Address:
37 Kings Drive
Leicester Forest East
LEICESTER
LE3 3JD
United Kingdom

Please put your order number or your name as the payment reference so I can easily identify your payment.

Can I pay by cash or cheque?

Absolutley. Cash is always good and you can pay on collection of your artwork or goods. I do have to wait for the cheque to clear through the banking system before sending you your goods.

Please make any cheques payable to “Jane Lappage”.
Note that cheques may only be used for UK orders.

Do you take deposits?

Yes, I can accept your order with a deposit as it guarantees your place in my order book. This option is only for telephone or face to face orders. Final payment can be made on collection in cash or in advance by any means such as PayPal, Stripe, BACS, cheque etc.

Do you accept credit or debit cards such as Visa or Mastercard?

Yes we accept Visa, Maestro,Mastercard and American Express. Credit card payments are processed securely via a minimum of 128 bit encryption when you submit your order. You can also phone or email us with your order.

We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any 3rd parties.

What is PayPal?

PayPal is the most preferred way to pay online in the UK because it’s safer and faster. PayPal stores and safeguards your card and bank details, enabling you to pay online without entering your sensitive financial information every time you shop. You speed through checkout in just a few clicks, PayPal takes the payment from your card or bank directly, and your payment details are never shared on the internet.

Why pay with PayPal?

It’s safer: Shop at thousands of websites without sharing your financial details
It’s faster: With no need to type in your card details, you can check out in a few clicks
It’s easier: All you need is an email address and password to pay online.

Simply put, PayPal is the safer, simpler, smarter way to pay online. All you need is an email address to make secure online payments using your debit, credit card, bank account or PayPal balance.

Shipping Questions

Do you ship internationally?

Yes we do. It’s great to send our artwork and products across the globe. We have already delivered to Australia, Pakistan, Israel, India, South Africa, USA, Lithuania, Belgium, New Zealand, Russia, Mexico and Malaysia.

All online orders have their shipping costs calculated at the checkout automatically.

Here’s a link to a map of where we have delivered to so far.

How much does it cost to deliver my order?

All delivery costs are shown in the checkout and are recalculated as you add products to your shopping cart.

Orders over £100 (which are delivered in the UK) are delivered free, unless you need Next Day Delivery.

There are various delivery options which you can choose from, depending on your location – the costs for these vary on the speed of your chosen method.

If you have a bespoke order, then this will depend on the size and weight of the item. All costs will be discussed with you during your order confirmation.

Can I collect my order from you instead of having it posted to my address?

Yes, of course you can. A deduction will be made from your final bill or a partial refund sent to you. Just call and let me know when you want to pick it up.

How will my order be delivered?

Various delivery options and prices for your order are shown at the checkout. These include Royal Mail, Parcel2Go (includes UPS, DPD, Hermes and Parcel Force). In special cases (such as commissions) Next Day delivery can be used but this will have to be agreed at the time of the order.

Do you deliver framed pictures?

Yes we do. Framed work has to be packed carefully and then sent. Most of our deliveries are made using the Royal Mail postal service but sometimes may be by Parcel2Go, Hermes courier service or Air Mail. Postage costs are all included in the agreed price at the time of your order at the online shop checkout or during any email or telephone contact.

Refunds?

Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied with my order?

Yes of course, but please contact me first so we can discuss what the problem is and hopefully rectify the issue before any refund is made. Obviously I’d much prefer to have a happy customer who is satisfied with their order.

Reviews?

Where can I place a review on Calligraphy Arts?

You can place  review on our products and services at three popular websites:

(You have to be a UK resident to place reviews on these websites)

You can also place a review about our products on our online shop. Just select the product you have bought and place your comments about it on the “Review” tab

Thank you for looking at these questions. If you need anything else answering, then please contact us for more information. We will always be happy to help you.

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