Community Spotlight :: Todd Brown Signs

By Jeff Curtis, Director Orange Downtown Alliance | Posted: Saturday, April 03, 2010

I came in to the office a few weeks ago and there, lo and behold, actually high and above, was a brand new, recently hung, Orange Downtown Alliance sign prominent above the door of our Main Street office.  A welcoming gift compliments of Todd Brown.

There's the old saying that you never really appreciate what's in your own backyard and in the case of Todd Brown I'd say you never really appreciate who's in your own Town.  Professional sign maker, muralist, painter, accomplished artist, collector of railroad memorabilia and home movie expert:  Todd Brown. 

Todd was a 1976 OCHS graduate, then received his BA in Fine Art from Lynchburg College in 1980. In 1982 he opened a sign shop on Byrd Street in Orange and the following year married his wife Sherri.  Oldest daughter Sarah now teaches Art on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and youngest daughter Kristin is a Junior studying English at James Madison University.  Sherri teaches third grade in Louisa County where the couple now resides.   Todd's parents live in the town of Orange. 

Having been in the sign production business for over thirty years he has definitely left his mark, or signs, all around us.  Take a look at the Coca Cola mural on the west side of Mosby Antiques:  that's Todd's repaint job.  Back in '98 the ODA contracted with him years ago to freshen up the mural.  

The Taylor Park mural is the artwork of Todd Brown as well.  And as you drive around town most every business sign, window display and informational sign is the work of multi-talented Brown.  

I asked Todd if he specializes in any particular medium or style and he said, "I cover a wide range, everything from design to installation.   Typical jobs are vehicle lettering, store fronts and farm signs.   Everything except electric signs.  About 90% of my business is throughout Orange County with some from Louisa."

To disprove the adage about not appreciating our own, the Town of Orange does appreciate and recognize Todd Brown for his artistic contributions to Orange and is a better place because of him.