Graham Short

Graham George Short (born 4 July 1946, Birmingham, England) is one of the world’s foremost micro-artists, known especially for his extraordinary skill in micro-engraving. Leaving school at 15 without any formal qualifications, he served a six-year apprenticeship in stationery engraving in Birmingham. After his apprenticeship, he launched his own engraving business in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

His clients included banks, royal palaces, luxury brands, and high-profile institutions. Over the years, Short has pushed the limits of engraving, working on surfaces so small that his works can only be seen under a microscope. Some of his most remarkable achievements include engraving The Lord’s Prayer onto the head of a gold pin (2 mm in diameter), a project he began in 1970 and completed in 2010.

He has also engraved phrases like “Nothing is Impossible” on the sharp edge of a razor blade. To achieve the precision needed, Short employs unusual methods: he works during the quietest hours (often midnight to early morning) to reduce vibration, uses a microscope and fine tools, sometimes takes beta-blockers to slow his heart rate, uses injections like Botox to steady muscles around his eyes, and times his engraving strokes between heartbeats. His work has been exhibited internationally and displayed in prestigious galleries and collections. He has created pieces combining English, Arabic, and calligraphy, and his art is collected by investors and art lovers worldwide.