Opening Special

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15% off all framing jobs received before 8 August 2026

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Opening Special | 15% off all framing jobs received before 8 August 2026 |

Framed Japanese-style painting of a woman in traditional kimono with clouds and a dragon in the background, hanging on a white wall.

Close-up photo of a framed artwork with several layers of paper in pink, blue, and white, visible on a white wall.

A black photo frame with a yellow background displaying multiple black and white photographs of people and scenery.

Art belongs on walls

A colorful illustration of a busy city park with people walking, sitting, and cycling, surrounded by trees, buildings, and a mountain in the background.

Photograph of a framed artwork on a white wall showing hands holding a cluster of red soda bottles.

Two abstract paintings with earthy and muted tones framed in wood, displayed against a white wall.

Photograph of a framed portrait of a young blonde-haired boy against a red background, mounted on a white wall and encased in a blue frame.

Traditional Japanese artwork depicting a fierce warrior with intense expression, long black hair, and vibrant clothing, battling a large tiger among falling autumn leaves.

Black and white photograph of a woman taking a selfie with a camera, holding it with one hand, and a small furry dog resting on her shoulder. The woman has short wavy hair and is looking directly into the camera mirror.

Black and white photo of a seascape with dark storm clouds over the ocean.

Shortmarket Framing is Cape Town's custom framing studio for people who take their walls seriously. We operate inside Ultraviolet Gallery on Shortmarket Street — and the gallery standard is the only standard we know.

We believe great framing does three things: it protects your artwork for generations, displays it with the pride it deserves, and elevates the work in ways that can genuinely surprise you. The right frame doesn't just contain a piece. It completes it.

We're obsessive about detail, uncompromising about craft, and genuinely passionate about art in all its forms. That passion goes into every job, whether you're framing a family photograph or a gallery exhibition. Bring us something you love. We'll make it shine.

Our Services

We offer a full custom framing service from our studio at 70 Shortmarket Street, working with a wide range of frame profiles, materials, and finishes to find the right solution for your piece. Every job is made to measure. We collect and deliver across Cape Town, and install work on request.

What sets the experience apart is who you're working with: a lifelong artist and gallery curator alongside a master framer with over 30 years of experience. This combination of creative sensibility and technical craftsmanship is rare, and it shows in the results.

Good framing starts with a good conversation. What makes ours worth having is who's in the room: a gallery curator and practising artist alongside a master framer with over 30 years of experience. That combination means we can look at your work from both a creative and a technical perspective, considering not just how to protect it but how to present it at its best. Whether you arrive with a clear vision or no idea where to start, bring the work in and we'll take it from there. It's free, and for anything beyond a straightforward job, we'd always recommend it.
Quality and longevity are at the core of everything we do, whether we're framing a work destined for a collector's wall or a family photograph going above the fireplace. For pieces that demand the highest level of protection, we work with archival-grade materials throughout: acid-free mount boards, UV-filtering museum glass, and backing that won't degrade or damage your work over time. For everyday commissions, the same attention to detail applies, even if the specification differs. We'll always advise on what makes sense for the piece, the context, and your budget, and we'll never cut corners where it matters.
Sometimes a piece arrives having lived a previous life: a found work that deserves a fresh context, a print that needs careful handling, or simply a beloved frame that has seen better days but remains the right home for the artwork inside it. We understand that attachment, and we're as happy restoring and repairing an existing frame as we are building a new one. We assess each piece individually and advise on what's possible, whether that's re-mounting, re-glazing, structural repair, or a full restoration. We work carefully and honestly, and we'll always tell you what we think before we touch anything.
Framing is only half the story. Once your work is ready, we can deliver it across Cape Town and hang it exactly where it needs to go. The same precision we bring to building a frame, where every millimetre counts, applies to putting it on the wall. Getting something perfectly plumb, properly secured, and positioned exactly right takes care and experience, and we'd rather you didn't find that out the hard way with a valuable piece. We take care of all of it, so you don't have to. Available on request alongside any framing order, or as a standalone service.
ReFramed is our curated collection of found original artworks, sourced, restored, and presented in bespoke framing developed specifically for each piece. Photography, painting, print, illustration: the works vary, but the approach is consistent. Each one is chosen for its inherent quality and given the framing it deserves, so what you're acquiring is a finished object, considered from the image outward. View the current collection here, or come and see them in studio.
Not every project calls for a full custom commission. We carry a selection of pre-made frames in a range of sizes and finishes, ready to take away on the day. A practical option for smaller works, gifts, or anyone working to a tighter budget, and worth considering for bulk projects where a consistent, cost-effective solution is the priority - without compromising on quality. Ask us what's currently available when you visit.

A man wearing a green cap and red sweatshirt is measuring and marking wood with a metal ruler and a pencil on a work table.

Work With Us

What Our Clients Say

“André did a fantastic job. I needed twelve frames for my first photo exhibition. Even with a very tight deadline, he delivered high quality work. Highly recommended!”

— Vladimir Baranov

“I’ve had the privilege of having prints and wet plates framed and reframed by Dylan and his team. On both occasions, the results were brilliant. Dylan and team took the time to listen to my requests and made their inputs. The results speak for themselves. I’ll definitely make use of them going forward!”

— Nolan Lister

“Many thanks to André who consistently delivers exceptional craftsmanship — it’s clear that each frame is created with pride and expertise. Thank you for always delivering top notch work.”

— Josie Borain

"As a young photographer with limited exhibition experience, choosing the perfect framing option for my prints was quite daunting… but Dylan made the whole experience so easy, with a detailed consultation to narrow down a specific look and feel. The level and attention to detail and effort by André is the best out there - the love for his craft really shows in the final product”

— Nick Farmer

“Andre´ was fantastic. Aside from the great workmanship and end result, I really appreciated how knowledgeable, helpful, prepared and thoughtful he was. He clearly cared a lot about all the details going into the job. Thank you!”

— Rayelle Goodman

“Other than being a wonderful person to be around, André’s work is of the highest quality. I noticed that he pays extremely close attention to every detail of the framing. He was able to bring my ideas to life through his vast experience of the craft, making me see new ideas for what would work best for my images. It’s really important to me to work with someone that I feel good around.”

— Gary van Wyk

Frequently Asked Questions

Pretty much anything that means something to you — photographs, artworks on paper, paintings on canvas, posters, maps, illustrations, diplomas, jerseys, memorabilia, mirrors. If it's worth preserving or displaying well, we can frame it. We've handled everything from a single snapshot to full gallery exhibitions, and we treat every job with the same care regardless of scale.
Our standard turnaround is 14 working days. Often we'll have it done sooner — we'll always tell you upfront. For more complex commissions involving custom finishes or specialist materials, we'll flag that at the outset so there are no surprises.
It starts with a genuine love of art and an understanding of what good framing can actually do for a piece.
There's always a place for classicism, but we're equally excited by the creative possibilities. The right frame doesn't just protect an artwork; it can transform it. A thoughtfully chosen profile, an unexpected colour combination, a mount that responds to something specific in the image... these decisions can elevate a piece from something you own to something that stops people in a room. We think of framing as the final creative act.
That perspective comes from where we sit. Shortmarket Framing grew out of Ultraviolet Gallery, Cape Town's only dedicated photography gallery, and most of our exhibition framing is done in-house. We offer that same gallery-quality workmanship to the public, whether you're an artist preparing a show or finally getting around to framing the piece you've had in a cupboard for months.
When you come in, you'll work directly with Dylan (a lifelong artist and gallery curator) and André, a master framer with over 30 years of experience. That combination of artistic sensibility and technical craftsmanship is genuinely rare, and it's at the heart of everything we do.
Whatever best suits the work, your taste, and your budget. We work with beautiful hardwoods, aluminium, and synthetic profiles, and we can custom-paint a frame in virtually any colour to create something genuinely unique. For fine art, photography, and anything intended to last, we'd typically recommend archival-grade materials as standard: acid-free mounts, UV-filtering glazing, museum-quality backing. But framing is always a conversation, and we'll help you find the right balance between aesthetics, protection, and cost.
Walk-ins are always welcome. That said, if you'd like time to properly consult on your project - talk through options, look at materials, work out what's right for the piece - it's worth booking ahead so we can give you our full attention. You can book via the website or just give us a call.

Museum glass is the premium glazing option for framed work. It combines near-invisible anti-reflective coating with UV protection that blocks over 99% of harmful light. The difference is immediately visible: the artwork reads as if there's almost nothing between you and it. We'd recommend it for anything valuable, light-sensitive, or where the display quality really matters. Standard UV glass is a solid middle option; regular glass is fine for work where longevity is less of a priority. We'll help you decide what makes sense.
Yes, we offer delivery and collection across the Cape Town area at a standard fee of R500. For oversized or particularly delicate pieces requiring special handling, we'll let you know if that varies. We also install and hang work on request, so if you'd like your newly framed piece up on the wall before we leave, just say the word.
Yes. We apply a standard 15% discount on five or more pieces, and 20% on ten or more. For larger projects - interior designers fitting out a space, collectors, businesses - we're happy to work out a rate that makes sense for the scope. Get in touch to discuss.
None whatsoever. We're as happy framing a single photograph as we are fitting out an entire exhibition. No job is too small, and no job is too big.
It's an online tool that lets you experiment with how your framing could look before you commit to anything — working with our actual frame profiles, mount board colours, and custom paint options. You can play around with combinations at home, get a feel for different directions, and either come in with a clearer sense of what you want or simply send us your mock-up and we'll quote directly from it. It's something we've built ourselves, and as far as we know, no other framing studio in Cape Town offers anything like it.

Let's Work Together

Have a piece that deserves better than the back of a cupboard? Planning an exhibition, fitting out a space, or simply ready to do something special with work you love? Get in touch for a free consultation. We're happy to talk through your project, look at the work together, and help you figure out exactly what it needs.

We’re conveniently located in the heart of the city, at 70 Shortmarket Street (inside Ultraviolet Gallery)