By signcraft
Posted on Friday, August 30th, 2024
About 20 years ago, Rob Cooper went rock climbing on the island of Koh Tao, Thailand. He never came back. The lifestyle of the island suited him perfectly, and it also provided a terrific canvas for his brand of creative, unique signage.
A native of New Zealand and an avid rock climber, Rob had been living in the US. In Koh Tao, he found beaches, diving and plenty of climbing—and eventually his wife, Puay. They raised their son, Wesley, there as Rob turned out great-looking painted and carved signs.
There is plenty of foot traffic and tourists on slow-moving mopeds, so signs are a primary way for businesses to connect with customers. Rob’s signs have been the face and image of many of the island’s businesses and resorts. He’s done everything from small hand-lettered “Bike for Rent” signs to large monuments carved in native hardwoods—not to mention all sorts of art pieces, like dragons, archers, tiki faces, Mayan-inspired work and more.
Over the past two decades, SignCraft has featured loads of Rob’s work. Here are some of our favorites from Rob’s early years on the island. You’ll find more in the complete articles:
Sign making in a Thai paradise
More signs from a Thai paradise
