This is South Devon --A TORBAY master craftsman has earned the ultimate accolade, not only celebrity endorsement but a special friendship with a man who fills rock stadiums around the world.
David Smith is one of a rare breed of glass embossers creating beautiful bespoke designs which take many hours of exquisite work for businesses like pubs and also for private commissions.
One special commission for 2013 was from whiskey company Jameson's for a limited edition bottle and so his name is immortalised on bottles sold around the world. His name was also on the special display cases.
David, from Torquay, said: "I am the third person to have my signature on the front of the bottle which is just brilliant. It was a limited edition bottle for St Patrick's Day. It was even on British Airways tickets and in airports around the world."
He was also commissioned to create a large reverse glass gilded mirror for Jameson, which now takes pride of place in their famous Whiskey distillery. Then came major commission from Sony Music/Columbia records, New York, to design an album cover for John Mayer, an American pop and blues rock musician. The album is called Born and Raised.
David worked with John on the brief of the artwork, and was asked to include coins, watches, flowers and ribbons. The turn-of-the-century, trade-card styled artwork took roughly one month to complete. David said: "This has without a doubt been one of the most enjoyable projects I have been involved with due to the person I was working for."
They regularly chat on the phone or by Skype. "He's a really nice guy and we have made a film with it which has had lots of interest on YouTube and Vimeo," said David. On YouTube the film, called The Making of John Mayer's Born and Raised Artwork, has had more than 180,000 hits on YouTube and 300,000 hits on Vimeo, with other sites sharing the film.
The album is available both digitally and as a traditional LP with full cover jacket and internal artwork. It has been number one in America and six other countries.
The guitarist showed it off on the Ellen DeGeneres TV show in America and the David Letterman Show in New York and many more international shows.
In addition David has recently created the gold leaf glass signs at the front of the new Burberry flagship store on Regent Street, London, and also the mirrors for the Ginstitute, Gin Palace on the Portobello Road, London.
To cap it all, David has been asked to design the cover for the new single for chart toppers Kings of Leon.
He attended one of John Mayer's concerts in America and at the 02 and Wembley arena in London.
He explained: "Last December I was sent an email. I remember the subject box stating: 'Album cover art for Sony music, John Mayer, Born and Raised album'. It had already been a busy and fast paced year; I had just completed and designed the limited edition St Patrick's Day bottle for Jameson Whiskey, and had been putting a lot of time into the project for Burberry flagship store on Regent Street, London.
"I did not realise at the time of opening this email that I was soon to embark on creating one of the most interesting yet challenging pieces I have ever made.
"And it wasn't just the artwork for the album cover I was kept busy with. I was assigned the task of creating posters for the songs Queen of California and Something Like Olivia and many other merchandise such as T-shirts and tour posters.
"During the making of the cover, a close friend of mine from Paignton, Danny Cooke a brilliant film maker captured the process of its creation, with this video still on YouTube, it's viewed by fans of John Mayer's around the world.
"Looking back now, the last year has been a surreal experience. Two months ago, I flew to California to meet John at one of his first concerts of his Born and Raised worldwide tour.
"And now myself and 16 others, my family and friends, were sent backstage passes and tickets to attend his concert at London's O2 Arena."
David learned glass embossing and signwriting after his father got him on to a traditional apprenticeship after leaving Westlands School in 1984. Now David is busier than ever, with some three years' worth of work lined up and is recognised as the leading exponent of the traditional skill in Britain and across the globe, meaning his services are much in demand.
For more of his work see www.davidadriansmith.com Reported by This is 11 hours ago.