The Ultimat Framer

THE

FRAMER

For this issue, 4walls had the pleasure of speaking to Dru Cook from Ultimat Frames, who has recently framed artwork for the internationally renowned Maddox Gallery in London.

The Maddox Gallery was founded in 2015 and has quickly established itself as an international powerhouse within the world of contemporary modern art. Recently, the gallery showcased ICONS, a solo exhibition by celebrity photographer Andy Gotts MBE. ICONS is a collection of intimate, black and white portraits that bring together the many famous faces and personal icons that have played a part in Andy’s career to date, united by the unique vision of one photographer. The exhibition was incredibly popular, and £100,000 worth of artwork was sold before the exhibition even began.

The printing and framing for this prestigious exhibition were carried out by none other than Ultimat Frames, and 4walls was absolutely delighted to hear that Dru chose to use Larson-Juhl products for this exhibition:

“Andy’s portraits for this exhibition were all black and white, so we chose to use Larson-Juhl’s Coastal Woods range in black for the entire collection alongside a matching conservation white mountboard from Larson-Juhl. Our aim was to let the artwork shine in its own right with some pieces even available with a diamond dust finish, a process of adhering crushed glass particles to the artwork for a spectacular shimmering effect.”

Although this was their first time working with Maddox Gallery, Ultimat are already looking to their next exhibition in early 2022. Alongside their work for the gallery, Ultimat is also working with the Dorchester Hotel to provide framing for their newly refurbished space, and a number of other hospitality venues worldwide.

Dru said: “We are lucky enough to have framed work for esteemed hotels all over the world. In 2020, demand for this type of framing slowed down dramatically but we are now finding that we are busier than ever! As businesses reopen, they are looking to carry out refurbishments before welcoming customers back to a new and improved space. This is excellent news for us framers!”

With such huge customers in both the art and hospitality world, Dru is always looking for ways in which he can streamline his service. He has invested in C&C facilities and an edge banding machine, allowing him to cut material to any shape and hide the cut edge of the wood. He also has a fully automated saw.

THE JOURNEY TO ULTIMAT

Dru has worked in framing for over 25 years, first entering the industry after completing a degree in photography where he framed his own work. He then opened a framing studio in Surrey with his business partner, Chris Neighbour, which then expanded to include 11 picture framers nationwide.

The pair sold the business 15 years ago and started Ultimat, a trade-to-trade manufacturer with both printing and framing services. The business has gone from strength to strength, and we look forward to seeing what is to come for Ultimat!

To see more of Ultimat, head to one of their websites:

ultimatframes.com

ultimatinteriors.com

readymadeframe.co.uk

The use of machinery in the Ultimat framing studio allows them to put together around 1,000 frames per day, enabling them to work with a number of customers in different industries.

Dru is always looking to work as efficiently as possible and said:

“We choose to work with Larson-Juhl for much of our framing as they offer a great range of products, allowing us to be very flexible with the needs of the customer. But the greatest advantage of using Larson-Juhl as a supplier is that they offer quick and efficient service. Usually, in refurbishment projects the art is the very last thing to be put in place before the business is able to reopen, meaning that deadlines are tight and immovable. Larson-Juhl allows us to offer a first-class, reliable service and we are grateful for that.”

Dru really does have a finger in every pie, as in addition to conquering the art and hospitality industries he also supplies a range of ready-made frames using Larson-Juhl mouldings for shops nationwide. These shops range from photoshops, department stores, framers and more!

As you can imagine, Dru has lots of goals for the future of his business and plans to continue diversifying. He’s also looking to open an Ultimat facility in the United States, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to see where he goes next!