Written by Paul Worrall
A reader got in touch recently asking exactly this — she had a huge amount of paintings and drawings needing mounts, most in non-standard sizes, and couldn’t find a proper list of suppliers who’d cut mount board and backing board to bespoke measurements rather than fixed standard sizes. It’s a genuinely common problem, and worth answering properly.
I’m Paul Worrall. I spent nearly a decade running digital marketing for ARTdiscount, one of the UK’s larger online art retailers, and I now run Discount Art Supplies — a price comparison platform used by over 41,000 UK artists every week.
What You Actually Need
Three separate things typically go into properly mounting a piece of art. The mount board sits in front, with a cut aperture that frames the artwork and creates a small gap between the piece and the glass — importent for preventing condensation damage. The backing board sits behind, giving the whole thing rigidity for handling, transport or sale. And a protective bag or sleeve, often acetate, keeps the finished mounted piece clean and dust-free, particularly relevant if you’re selling work at markets or shipping it to buyers.
Why Bespoke Sizing Matters
Standard mount sizes are built around common paper and print dimensions, but a huge amount of original artwork simply doesn’t fall into those sizes — a slightly odd canvas, an irregular sketch, a piece trimmed by hand. Forcing non-standard art into a standard mount either means unwanted extra border or genuinely not fitting at all, which is exactly the problem worth solving with a bespoke-cut supplier rather than compromising on a close-enough standard size.
Cadremont
A genuine specialist in cut-to-order mounts, backing boards and protective bags, serving artists, photographers, galleries, camera clubs and arts societies specifically — not just a general framing add-on. They cut both standard and bespoke exact sizes, and reviewers consistantly mention competitive pricing against high street alternatives.
ePictureMounts
Offers over 20 mount board colours in both very small and extremely large sizes, using Larson-Juhl mountboard, with an online tool letting you specify your exact outer and aperture dimensions directly. Worth noting their guidance to subtract around 3mm from each internal side of your measurement to make sure the artwork sits securely behind the aperture rather than falling through — a genuinely useful practical tip most suppliers don’t bother explaining.
Picture Gallery UK
Handcrafted in a Bedfordshire workshop, with an online design tool for specifying exact outer and aperture measurements up to 1110mm x 812mm, and a choice of single or double mounts for a more gallery-style finish. Genuinely useful for anyone wanting a more considered, layered presentation rather than a single flat mount.
Backing Boards Specifically
If it’s just backing board you’re after rather than a full mount, Picture Display Systems cut bespoke white backing boards up to 1105mm x 800mm from their East London studio, and iCanFrame offer bespoke-cut coloured card backing boards at clear, tiered pricing depending on size. Worth checking minimum order quantities before ordering just backing boards alone from either, since some suppliers apply different terms depending on whether you’re also ordering mounts or frames at the same time.
Acid-Free and Conservation Grade — Why It Matters
Standard card genuinely contains acid that reacts with artwork over time, causing the browning and discolouration you sometimes see on older mounted pieces. Acid-free or conservation grade mount board doesn’t react the same way, keeping artwork protected for genuinely long-term storage or display. If you’re mounting anything you intend to sell, keep long-term, or that has real sentimental value, it’s consistantly worth paying the small premium for acid-free board over standard card.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a mount board and a backing board?
A mount board sits in front of the artwork with a cut aperture, framing it and creating separation from the glass. A backing board sits behind the artwork, giving it rigidity and support for handling, display or sale.
Why do I need acid-free or conservation grade mount board?
Standard card contains acid that can cause artwork to discolour and degrade over time — the browning you sometimes see on old mounted pieces. Acid-free or conservation grade board doesn’t react with the artwork, so it stays protected for genuinely long-term storage or display.
Can I get non-standard sizes cut to order?
Yes — several UK suppliers specialise in exactly this, cutting mounts and backing boards to your precise outer and aperture measurements rather than only offering standard pre-cut sizes.
If you’re weighing up having your work professionally framed rather than doing it yourself, my UK Picture Framing Companies Compared guide covers that side of things. At Discount Art Supplies we compare prices across all the major UK art retailers in real time, so you can find the best current deal on materials too.
