In anticipation of the Singulart Prize 2025, which focuses on the theme “Deeply Human,” we continue to delve deeper into the stories behind those who help art shine beyond the canvas. One such story is that of Neil Ayton, founder of Mountary Framing, a company dedicated to making custom framing accessible and seamless for artists and collectors alike. With over 20 years of experience, Mountary blends craftsmanship and technology, ensuring each artwork is displayed in its ideal form. Last year, Mountary partnered with Singulart for the Singulart Award 2024. The insights Neil Ayton has into the importance of framing bring a unique view into how presentation can elevate art and aid the emotional connection between viewer and work, and are certainly useful for those participating in this year’s Prize.
Could you introduce yourself, share a bit about your background, and explain your role at Mountary?
My name is Neil Ayton, and I am the founder of Mountary Framing. I am an Irishman based in San Francisco. My main goal is to offer a simple tech enabled framing process to make framing super easy for our clients. We have built a team of 25 talented framers across the US serving all major markets to offer high quality custom framing as well as repair, white glove delivery and installation.
Mountary has become a trusted American name in custom framing with over 20 years of experience. What inspired you to create Mountary, and what do you think your company has brought to the art framing industry?
My own frustrating experience with custom framing inspired me to create Mountary Framing. The cost, time and difficulty in framing made it a painful and expensive process. When custom framing artwork, there is an overwhelming amount of choice in terms of colors of frames or mats. There are also a lot of framing terms that sound like a different language. Our mission is to guide people through that process.
Choosing the right frame can be daunting for many artists and collectors. What advice would you give to help them select the perfect frame that complements and elevates their artwork?
Framing like art can be very subjective, depending on where you are going to hang the artwork the frame choice can be simple or hard. Our main piece of advice is don’t distract from the artwork itself. The frame is there to complement the art and help draw the viewers eye to artwork. Summed up, that can mean, keep it simple.
Mountary has partnered with the Singulart Award 2024 dedicated to prints. What motivated you to support this initiative, and how do you see it aligning with Mountary’s mission and values?
We love Singulart’s mission. Giving artists, both big and small, a place to sell their art and earn a living is inspiring. We are excited to best present that artwork with quality custom frames.
As someone deeply involved in the art world, what is one key piece of advice you would offer to artists to ensure their works are presented in the best possible way?
Unsurprisingly, I always make sure to frame the art nicely. This does not have to be super expensive, but some quality custom framing can enhance the artwork. From the perspective of the buyer, buying a piece that is framed and ready to hang removes the hassle and allows them to go from clicking to purchase to artwork displayed in their home in the shortest amount of time.
Neil Ayton’s commitment to making custom framing simpler is right in line with the Singulart’s desire to showcase the deeply human stories and connections in art. As with the right frame enhancing and elevating a work of art, Singulart wants to frame the artistic talents of artists across the world, to help their voices reach new audiences. Apply to the Singulart Prize 2025 and discover what your art has to say, how you want to express yourself, a story that will resonate, connect and inspire.
