Antique book page art: what is it, and why do people love it?

People ask me about the paper more than the paint. They lean in close at the stall, spot the tiny old text under the colour and say, "Is that a real book?" Yes. Yes, it is. Here's the story.

What is antique book page art?

Antique book page art is any artwork made on pages from old books. Some artists draw on dictionary pages, some collage with old maps, some paint over book illustrations. The old page isn't just a surface. It becomes part of the art: the type, the yellowed paper, the foxing (those little brown spots), the history.

How I use antique book pages

I do two things with them.

1. Slogans on antique pages

My originals are hand-painted onto antique book pages. First comes colour, splashes, washes and drips, then the words in big, bold letters on top. You can see bits of old text peeking through the paint, which gives every piece a depth you'd never get on blank paper.

2. Antique images, painted over

I also take portraits from antique art books, serious paintings of serious people from centuries ago, and paint over them. A red bob here, glitter there, a new expression, a line they'd never have said. They're printed reproductions in old books, made new by hand, and every one becomes one of a kind. I call them antique images, and they're £25 each.

Rebel Heart is an old Flemish portrait of a young man, now with a red bob, red lips and a golden arrow. Todos Me Miran ("everyone is looking at me") gives a lady in a horned headdress the attitude she always deserved. I Just Farted is a solemn gentleman finally confessing. History is funnier than it looks.

Why people love it

Every piece is unique

No two book pages are the same. Different text, different paper, different age marks. Even if I paint the same phrase twice, the two originals are completely different.

It mixes old and new

There's something satisfying about a 21st-century joke sitting on top of a page someone printed generations ago. It bridges the old and the new, which is exactly why I started doing it.

It has texture

Old paper has a feel to it. Paint sits differently on it. Up close, there's a richness that flat new paper doesn't have.

It's sustainable(ish)

Old pages get a second life on someone's wall instead of sitting forgotten on a shelf. Nothing new has to be made for the surface: it already exists, with a hundred years of character built in.

It tells a story

"It's painted on a page from an antique book" is a great thing to say when someone asks about your art. People love a story.

Is it the same as a print?

No. My originals and antique images are painted by hand, so they're one of a kind. My prints reproduce those originals, so you still see the book pages and texture in the image, but the print itself is a reproduction. Read art print vs original for the full difference.

How to look after antique book page art

Old paper is more delicate than new paper, so a bit of care goes a long way.

1. Frame it behind glass or acrylic. Ideally with UV protection.
2. Use acid-free mounts and backing. Acidic card makes paper yellow faster.
3. Keep it out of direct sunlight. Sun fades paint and paper.
4. Avoid damp rooms. Bathrooms and kitchens aren't kind to old paper.
5. Float pieces with torn edges in a box frame so you can see the edge. It looks wonderful.

More in how to frame art prints.

See it for real, up close

Antique book page art is best seen up close, ideally with a coffee in hand and no rush. The text under the paint, the edges of the pages, the texture of the brush: photos only get you so far. Come and see the wall at Jubilee Market Hall in Covent Garden, any Saturday or Sunday. Or browse antique book page art and original artwork online.

Antique book page art questions