A RENEWED appreciation for traditional handwriting and calligraphy is taking root in KwaZulu-Natal, thanks to the work of veteran calligrapher and handwriting repair specialist Ingrid Lotter Smith.

Lotter Smith, who has taught hundreds of students over the years, said her journey into handwriting rehabilitation began unexpectedly when a friend asked her to help her academically gifted son whose handwriting collapsed into “illegible scribble” under exam pressure.

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“He was losing marks simply because teachers couldn’t read what he wrote,” said Lotter Smith.

“We worked together using what was then a trial-and-error method based on my calligraphy background — and it worked. That’s when I realised many other students must be facing the same struggle.”

She believes the problem has grown as classroom pressures increase.

“Teachers, especially in primary schools, simply don’t have the time anymore to focus on the basics of handwriting,” she said.

Her programme has since helped both children and adults — including an attorney, whose secretary threatened to resign if he didn’t improve his scrawled notes.

“They were both delighted with his progress,” she laughed.

Another case involved a senior academic who felt her signature lacked presence.

“Your handwriting conveys so much about your persona. It’s a lasting record of who you are. Just as heroes on screen have to look the part, your writing needs to project confidence and pride,” said Lotter Smith.

She laments the rise of digital lettering, which she describes as “soulless” and inappropriate for meaningful documents.

“It’s almost an insult to hand over a certificate with a computer-generated name when recognising someone’s service. When computers first became popular, I lost many commissions — but now people are coming back. Good craftsmanship is valued again.”

Lotter Smith distinguishes between handwriting and calligraphy, noting that most people misunderstand the term. “Calligraphy comes from ancient Greek and means ‘beautiful lettering’. Gothic and Copperplate styles are just two examples — each a discipline that requires skill and practise.”

Her career has taken her abroad, allowing her to view historic manuscripts and study under world-renowned calligraphers, including Sheila Waters. She has also completed numerous high-profile commissions, among them an illuminated address for the Freedom of Howick presented to former president Nelson Mandela.

Her favourite works, she says, are collaborations with her husband, who paints watercolour backgrounds for her lettering.

Lotter Smith warns that self-teaching often leads to poor habits. “People think they can learn from the internet, but the result is often disastrous. The subtleties of the shapes and lines get lost.”

Her advice for anyone wanting to improve is to “slow down”.

“This is not speedwriting. Ballpoint pens are ruinous. A good pencil gives you the control you need to write beautifully.”

As more people rediscover the value of penmanship, she said: “Good handwriting is personal, expressive, and deeply human. It deserves to be preserved.”

@caxtonlocalmedia Is beautiful handwriting becoming a lost art? ✍️ A KwaZulu-Natal calligraphy expert is helping children and adults fix messy handwriting and rediscover the power of penmanship. From illegible exam scripts to signatures with presence, the results are incredible. #Calligraphy #BeautifulWriting #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

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