In 1974, John Noyes went to work in a friend’s frame shop in South Dakota. All these years later he is still in the business, and is making a decent living from art and enjoying his work. It’s a formula his wife, Robin, an artist, wouldn’t tinker with.

“This is irreplaceable,” she said. As long as he’s happy in his career she’s happy, especially since he frames her pieces for free. Robin met John in 1981 when she applied for a job at a Phoenix, Ariz., art gallery where he ran the frame shop. It was one of a number of shops Noyes either worked for or owned elsewhere in the country. An experienced framer herself, Robin found no job, but the couple has been together ever since. They wanted to live near the ocean, so they packed their mitering machine, paper cutter and other belongings on a flatbed truck and headed east, landing at a friend’s place in Topsham. Since 1986 John Noyes has run The Picture Framer in the first floor and basement of the building on Main Street in downtown Topsham. It is a location he likes — spruced up last year with new sidewalks and paving, and safer since the Coastal Connector diverted traffic around the downtown. Since picture framing is a destination business, Noyes said, his central location and parking spaces are a benefit.

Picture framing indulges Noyes’ love of working with his hands. A tour of the shop is a walk from machine to machine. A few he carted on the long drive east. Many he bought here. In the basement he has assembled a complete woodworking shop with saws, a jointer, router, drill press, grinder and all of the clamps, glues, planes and finishes that he needs for shaping wood. Something most frame shops don't have.

Many people want custom frames to complement and display artwork that may be expensive or loved or both. The Picture Framer clients include art museums, galleries, interior decorators, artists, and individuals. "I feel like I've got a niche,"  John said. "It's a fulfilling life. I get rewarded by bringing pleasure to the customers and myself.

Excerpted from The Times Record, August 2, 2004
Written By:  Martin McKenna

Bruce Kaminski, Framing Assistant

Bruce has been with us since July, 2005.  His deft abilities with our computer is invaluable with it's care and feeding.  He is the man that built our website and would do one for you, too, if you're interested.  Bruce is also an accomplished artist in the oil/egg tempera medium which you can see for yourself at his website linked below.  He has a great sense of humor and is a excellent craftsman with a fine sense of detail.

Bruce Kaminski