Stick No Bills
Bringing Vintage Poster Art to Life in Palma’s Historic Printworks
Stick No Bills, founded by Meg Gage Williams and her late husband Philip James Baber, has transformed Palma’s historic Imprenta Nueva Balear into a stunning gallery. Showcasing restored vintage posters, the space celebrates Mallorca’s artistic heritage while supporting charitable causes and preserving traditional printmaking techniques.
By Lucy Hawkins
17/3/25
When British entrepreneur, Meg Gage Williams, walked the quiet streets of Palma as restrictions lifted during the COVID-19 global pandemic, she would pass the oldest active printworks in the Western Mediterranean - the Imprenta Nueva Balear. Located alongside the Corté Inglés on Avenidas, Meg would peer through the windows at the enticing old industrial space with its high ceilings and stone floors, the machinery and the sounds of the printers churning from behind the wall.
She and her late husband, Philip James Baber, knocked on the door and were welcomed by owner, Roberto Aguiló Moro. Inside they discovered a beautifully preserved and still fully functioning taller – workshop – that has been active since 1913.
Meg says, “Aguiló’s family have been running the printers for 112 years. Aguiló and his father still make first class typographic prints from their 12 ton Albert Rosenthal and Heidelberg Medusas, machines their great grandfather and grandfather had first switched on in 1913 and 1960 respectively.”
Meg and Philip immediately wanted to work with Aguiló and his sister Belén who are now in charge of the family business. They found out that a space in the printworks was available and so Meg and Philip had an idea - why not propose using it as a gallery space for their global Stick No Bills initiative showcasing the best of Mallorca and the Balearic Island’s rich poster art history?
Stick No Bills was created when Meg and Philip were living in the jungle of Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast, running a surf hotel and raising their two little girls. They had been passionate collectors of vintage poster art while working and traveling around the world. However, it was in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka, in 2011, that they envisioned a future for their love of poster art, one that could inspire a new generation of travellers to visit Sri Lanka while also giving back to their new-found home by using a net percentage of proceeds from sales of the fine art prints they produced to fundraise for local humanitarian and conservation organisations, The Galle Fort Heritage Foundation and the Sri Lanka Wildlife Foundation.
Having setup Stick No Bills in Sri Lanka and opened two other galleries, the couple moved to Mallorca and when they found Imprenta Nueva Balear and met Roberto they realised it would be the perfect space to replicate what they’d started in Sri Lanka.
Meg remembers, “As we spoke and spent time (with Aguiló) going through their incredible archive, talking about the past as well as the future, we realised our vision was a shared one; to dust off and digitise the best of Imprenta Nueva Balear’s own archives, amassed over decades, to then open the doors of this wonderful historic building to the public for the very first time. To use our poster art expertise to breathe new life into the physical space and help their story resonate around the world.”
“Today, stepping into this giant, high-ceilinged elegant Printworks is to be transported back to the Mallorca of the last century, while our joint craftsmanship and dedication also provides a Stick No Bills branded and licensed vision for a dynamic future bedecked with our impeccably remastered poster artworks; carefully curated and fully authorised for first release right here.”
Turning the available space at the printers into a gallery took time and love as they curated all the printworks’ old archives and brought in furniture in-keeping with Mallorca’s iconic aesthetic whilst making sure the modern day printworks could keep functioning.
Meanwhile Meg had also been in touch with the Fomento del Turismo Mallorca, the oldest tourist board in the world, and told them about ‘Stick No Bills’ at the printworks. The Fomento’s President opened the doors of their archive and Meg spent days looking through all of their artwork in search of vintage posters advertising holidays to Mallorca. “Inside we discovered a treasure-trove of world-class destination marketing poster artworks produced in-house and donated to the Fomento throughout 120 years of innovation.”
Original watercolours painted in 1924 by Erwin Hubert of Cala Deia and Cala de Sa Foradada, first published by the Fomento del Turismo de Mallorca in the early 1930s have been brought back to life and capture the timeless beauty of the island as well as a net percentage of proceeds from the collection going to the Cruz Roja and Médicos Sin Fronteras.
‘Stick No Bills Global Poster Gallery & Printworks at Imprenta Nueva Balear’ opened in 2021 showcasing their mid-Century aesthetic and style. Stunning posters not only from Mallorca but around the world adorn the walls and hang from the high ceilings. It is a visual delight. The artworks, posters and postcards are available to buy from the gallery as well as their online shop.
In addition to the Fomento’s collection, the Printworks recent commissions have included one for Mallorcan winery and equestrian centre, ‘Ses Rotes’. The original artwork entitled ‘Mästare’ (Champion) has Stick No Bills’ distinctive art deco style and is a collaboration with award-winning Danish artist Mads Berg under Meg’s Art Direction. The graphic motif, printable up to 5 x 3 metres is Stick No Bills’ 54th poster artwork and will now lead the visual branding for the Ses Rotes Estate, including its use in miniature form as the label for the estates’ latest vintage of Syrah red wine.
Stick No Bills are also very excited to announce that they are Creative Directing the creation of the official poster for Pan American World Airways. The project, called Tracing the Transatlantic, sees Pan American World Airways, LLC (Pan Am Brands) working with tour operators, Bartelings Associates and Criterion, to curate and operate an exclusive 12 day journey by privately chartered aircraft, visiting destinations inspired by Pan Am’s Flying Boat service to and from Europe in the last century. 50 lucky passengers will take off from New York’s JFK airport to Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London and Foynes this June, the first flight for decades.
It's no surprise that Pan Am went to Stick No Bills to create their poster design, looking at their collection of work is as their website says, ‘As luxurious as stepping into a first class airport lounge circa 1969.’
Bringing Vintage Poster Art to Life in Palma’s Historic Printworks
Stick No Bills, founded by Meg Gage Williams and her late husband Philip James Baber, has transformed Palma’s historic Imprenta Nueva Balear into a stunning gallery. Showcasing restored vintage posters, the space celebrates Mallorca’s artistic heritage while supporting charitable causes and preserving traditional printmaking techniques.
Turning the available space at the printers into a gallery took time and love as they curated all the printworks’ old archives and brought in furniture in-keeping with Mallorca’s iconic aesthetic whilst making sure the modern day printworks could keep functioning.
Meanwhile Meg had also been in touch with the Fomento del Turismo Mallorca, the oldest tourist board in the world, and told them about ‘Stick No Bills’ at the printworks. The Fomento’s President opened the doors of their archive and Meg spent days looking through all of their artwork in search of vintage posters advertising holidays to Mallorca. “Inside we discovered a treasure-trove of world-class destination marketing poster artworks produced in-house and donated to the Fomento throughout 120 years of innovation.”
Original watercolours painted in 1924 by Erwin Hubert of Cala Deia and Cala de Sa Foradada, first published by the Fomento del Turismo de Mallorca in the early 1930s have been brought back to life and capture the timeless beauty of the island as well as a net percentage of proceeds from the collection going to the Cruz Roja and Médicos Sin Fronteras.
‘Stick No Bills Global Poster Gallery & Printworks at Imprenta Nueva Balear’ opened in 2021 showcasing their mid-Century aesthetic and style. Stunning posters not only from Mallorca but around the world adorn the walls and hang from the high ceilings. It is a visual delight. The artworks, posters and postcards are available to buy from the gallery as well as their online shop.
In addition to the Fomento’s collection, the Printworks recent commissions have included one for Mallorcan winery and equestrian centre, ‘Ses Rotes’. The original artwork entitled ‘Mästare’ (Champion) has Stick No Bills’ distinctive art deco style and is a collaboration with award-winning Danish artist Mads Berg under Meg’s Art Direction. The graphic motif, printable up to 5 x 3 metres is Stick No Bills’ 54th poster artwork and will now lead the visual branding for the Ses Rotes Estate, including its use in miniature form as the label for the estates’ latest vintage of Syrah red wine.
Stick No Bills are also very excited to announce that they are Creative Directing the creation of the official poster for Pan American World Airways. The project, called Tracing the Transatlantic, sees Pan American World Airways, LLC (Pan Am Brands) working with tour operators, Bartelings Associates and Criterion, to curate and operate an exclusive 12 day journey by privately chartered aircraft, visiting destinations inspired by Pan Am’s Flying Boat service to and from Europe in the last century. 50 lucky passengers will take off from New York’s JFK airport to Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London and Foynes this June, the first flight for decades.
It's no surprise that Pan Am went to Stick No Bills to create their poster design, looking at their collection of work is as their website says, ‘As luxurious as stepping into a first class airport lounge circa 1969.’
Meg says, “The modern working studio of the Imprenta Nueva Balear enables us to use the most advanced printing technology available for our Giclée prints. The state-of-the-art, latest generation Fine Art Epson Large Format Printer applies archival quality, pigmented inks that are guaranteed to be fade-proof for 75 years when micro-sprayed onto Hahnemuele 100% cotton-based fabric. The result is so enriched and velvety to touch that many first time viewers think they are looking at the original paintings we are reviving.”
Stick No Bills has become a leader in curating, restoring, enhancing, and officially reviving antique posters from historical archives. Their artwork promotes revered destinations, institutions, and celebrates major cultural and sporting events with each collection giving back to a local organisation.
Last year Meg opened galleries in Barcelona and Dubai, each with its own feel and representative of that location. There are also artworks in a range of museums, luxury hotels and boutiques around the world including the incredible Master Edition of “Fly the Rolls-Royce Way to London, 1950s” at the Iconic Images Gallery in London.
Tragically Meg’s husband, Philip, died last year after a long illness. He and Meg have spent over a decade meticulously curating, digitizing, cataloguing, and creating new poster art, as well as remastering historic works. Phil’s exceptional eye for detail, colour, and composition has been the driving force behind Stick No Bills' creativity and success. Meg is deeply grateful that he chose to pass on his role to their close friends, Angela Hartwick and Daryl Visscher—both highly respected filmmakers and photographers and so the couple’s work lives on.
Stick No Bills is an aladdin’s cave of extraordinary art from the four corners of the world taking you back to a time of glamour and sophistication. And if you’re in Palma you will be delighted to find this historic gem.
Stick No Bills Global Fine Art Printworks & Gallery (at the historic building of Imprenta Nueva Balear.)
Carrer de Costa i LLobera, 2A Llevant, 07005, Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain
Tel: +34 671 42 05 53
Monday - Friday: 10am-8pm
Meg says, “The modern working studio of the Imprenta Nueva Balear enables us to use the most advanced printing technology available for our Giclée prints. The state-of-the-art, latest generation Fine Art Epson Large Format Printer applies archival quality, pigmented inks that are guaranteed to be fade-proof for 75 years when micro-sprayed onto Hahnemuele 100% cotton-based fabric. The result is so enriched and velvety to touch that many first time viewers think they are looking at the original paintings we are reviving.”
Stick No Bills has become a leader in curating, restoring, enhancing, and officially reviving antique posters from historical archives. Their artwork promotes revered destinations, institutions, and celebrates major cultural and sporting events with each collection giving back to a local organisation.
Last year Meg opened galleries in Barcelona and Dubai, each with its own feel and representative of that location. There are also artworks in a range of museums, luxury hotels and boutiques around the world including the incredible Master Edition of “Fly the Rolls-Royce Way to London, 1950s” at the Iconic Images Gallery in London.
Tragically Meg’s husband, Philip, died last year after a long illness. He and Meg have spent over a decade meticulously curating, digitizing, cataloguing, and creating new poster art, as well as remastering historic works. Phil’s exceptional eye for detail, colour, and composition has been the driving force behind Stick No Bills' creativity and success. Meg is deeply grateful that he chose to pass on his role to their close friends, Angela Hartwick and Daryl Visscher—both highly respected filmmakers and photographers and so the couple’s work lives on.
Stick No Bills is an aladdin’s cave of extraordinary art from the four corners of the world taking you back to a time of glamour and sophistication. And if you’re in Palma you will be delighted to find this historic gem.
Stick No Bills Global Fine Art Printworks & Gallery (at the historic building of Imprenta Nueva Balear.)
Carrer de Costa i LLobera, 2A Llevant, 07005, Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares, Spain
Tel: +34 671 42 05 53
Monday - Friday: 10am-8pm