A vintage bicycle. A working frame. And a bold new coat of sunshine. This project began with colour: a decision to bring energy, brightness and optimism to a well-loved ride using Bunting Yellow from the Jubilee Collection.
As part of our Spring Painting Series, this revival celebrates more than surface transformation. It’s a story of movement, character, and how thoughtfully chosen colour can turn an everyday object into something quite joyful.
Why We Painted a Vintage Bike with Bunting Yellow
Bunting Yellow is an elevated sunshine tone: rich, buttery and grounded in nostalgia. It carries the warmth of English spring fields and golden bunting in a seaside breeze, cheerful, never brash. Bunting Yellow, the colour of the morale-boosting signal sent by Horatio Nelson, Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy, at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Is a sunny, bright and intense yellow hue. On a vintage bicycle, it brings charm, levity and a sense of play.
This project wasn’t just about giving an old frame a new look. It was about celebrating motion, outdoor life, and the emotional lift a confident colour can bring to the everyday.
Preparing and Painting a Vintage Bike Frame
The bicycle was metal, gently worn and in regular use. We cleaned the frame with warm soapy water, removed surface dust and used a gentle sanding paper to matt down the existing finish. Once dry, we applied two fine coats of Jubilee in Bunting Yellow, using a 25mm mottler brush.
Jubilee adheres beautifully to metal with no need for primers or topcoats, making it ideal for projects like this where durability and ease are both essential. However, if your metal has rust, it’s important to sand it back and apply a rust-inhibiting primer before painting to ensure a lasting finish.
We applied two quick coats, and this project was done in an afternoon!
A Vintage Bike That Still Turns Heads
This vintage bike isn’t just for show; it’s built to ride. Refinished in Bunting Yellow, it brings not only a smile but a sense of joy to every journey. It’s a quiet reminder that vintage pieces, when thoughtfully revived, can carry both function and beauty into the everyday.
Jubilee is UV-stable, has a high-pigment formula that resists fading and moisture, even when stored outdoors. Just a quiet satin sheen and a colour that glows against stone, grass or road.
It’s proof that utility and artistry don’t have to live apart.
Painting Metal for the Outdoors
Although we’ll be focusing more on metal furniture later in the series, this project offered a lovely preview of how Jubilee performs on metal surfaces.
If you're reviving a metal item for indoor or outdoor use:
- Clean thoroughly to remove oils and residue
- Gently matt the surface if glossy
- Apply two light coats with drying time between
- No primer or topcoat needed with Jubilee
- Use a rust inhibitor if your metal already has rust spots
Whether it’s a bicycle, a bench or a set of iron chairs, the goal is always the same: protection, personality and lasting beauty.
A Celebration of Movement and Colour
This vintage bike now carries more than groceries or errands. It carries presence. A flash of colour in motion, it catches the eye and lifts the everyday. A small but confident expression of spring’s energy and the quiet impact of painting with intention.
We’ll be sharing more transformations soon: garden urns, metal chairs and more. But for now, this bicycle leads the way.
Inspired by British heritage, built to endure, with colours that bring charm and character to every corner of the garden, house... or the road.
What’s Next in Our Spring Painting Series
This was just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share more spring outdoor transformations, including:
- A vintage iron garden bench
- A pair of metal bistro chairs
- Wooden Adirondack chairs
Each project will showcase a different surface, paint, and application technique, ideal for makers, gardeners, DIY'ers and outdoor stylists alike.
Discover more heritage-inspired colours in the Jubilee Collection
