Cosmic & Star Ceilings
The effect of a glow-in-the-dark star ceiling is quite breathtaking.
By day the ceiling will look completely innocent but come nightfall the specialist paint applied to the ceiling comes alive with stars, constellations, galaxies, comets, nebulae and planets.
It creates the illusion that the entire ceiling has been removed - exposing the room to a wondrous starry sky beyond.
Drawing on my skills as a muralist and trompe l'oeil artist I can create effects such as realistic planets & moons with craters that actually look 3D, comets trailing tails of dust particles and swirling distant galaxies.
Children are fascinated by these effects and it could make the dreaded bedtime routines run a little smoother.
And why let the children have all the fun ! Anybody can have a cosmic star ceiling and will discover that drifting off to sleep under the stars is very therapeutic.
Prices
Prices start at around £250 for a ceiling up to 6 sq metres in size to around £350 for a ceiling of around 22 sq metres.
Larger ceilings and ones that are over 9ft high or that have restricted access will need to be quoted accordingly as specialist equipment may be required.
I am based in South Essex so can easily serve London and the home counties - I will need to take into account travel expenses if I need to travel more than 20 miles from where I'm based. Parking expenses may also need to be considered.
If the commission is of a considerable distance from South Essex then overnight boarding expenses may need to be taken into account when quoting.
Please contact me for further details
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the paints safe ?
Yes - the paints are water based and non-toxic.
As with most paints the glow paint will emit a slight odour when drying but being waterbased they dry within a couple of hours and the odour will fade away.
Does the ceiling have to be painted black first ?
Absolutely not. A white ceiling is perfect for the paints to glow at their best.
Can the effect be painted onto an artexed ceiling ?
Yes - I can paint stars and nebulae onto artex or textured ceilings although it will not be possible to create the planet and comet effects as these work best on a smooth surface.
How does the paint glow ?
The paints are phosphorescent which means they can absorb sunlight and artificial light (known as charging) and slowly release this light during darkness.
UV or black light is ideal for charging these paints.
What is UV ?
UV is short for Ultraviolet light (or black light). UV light has a wavelength shorter than that of visible light and cannot be detected by the human eye.
While UV light itself is invisible, it causes many substances to glow or fluoresce in a variety of colors that are visible and you will probably have seen the effects of such lighting at themeparks and nightclubs.
How long will the stars glow for ?
The paints will glow for up to 10 hours if they are given an adequate charge of light. Normal lighting will do the job but for the most outstanding results a UV black-light will charge up the ceiling better & faster.
Is the paint visible durng the day ?
In daylight the paint is a very pale cream colour so if painted onto a white or off-whiite ceiling the effect is almost invisible.
How long does it take to complete a Star Ceiling
A Star Ceiling that includes a planet, comet, shooting stars and nebulae will be completed within one day (unless it is an exceptionally large ceiling) Sometimes it will be possible to complete the work before your child gets back from school so you can surprise them at bedtime
Will I be able to paint over a Star Ceiling ?
Yes - you will probably need about 3-4 coats of emulsion before the effect finally disappears although I would be very surprised if you ever wanted to do this.
Will I have to remove furniture from the room to be painted ?
I use plastic sheeting and dust covers to protect the walls, floor & furniture but I do ask that the room is cleared as much as possible - especially of any fragile and valuable items.
After you complete the ceiling will I have to wait until night-time to see the effect ?
Not at all. Before I start painting the ceiling I have to block out the daylight with blackout material - this is to simulate the night-time. Once I have finished the ceiling I will give it a good charge with a UV light so you will be able to see the effect before I leave.
Are the star pictures shown on this website your actual work ?
Yes they certainly are. I believe it is important to show you the actual images even though they cannot compare to seeing the effect firsthand.