How to Write a Painter CV: Expert Examples, Templates and Tips
Being a painter and decorator in the UK is more than just applying wallpaper and beautifying spaces. It’s a job that demands high concentration, close attention to detail, a head for customer service and excellent interpersonal skills. Interior and exterior improvement experts are sought after in several areas. That's why a good CV is essential to passing application tracking systems (ATS), qualifying you, and recommending your services for different positions.
Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned professional, we’ll walk you through the main components of a simple CV for a decorator in the UK and show you how to give it the two coats it deserves to shine.
What's in this article?
Must-have CV sections for a painter
Key skills to include in your painter CV
How to list work experience and education
CV examples for entry-level and non-experienced painters.
Boost your CV with CVMaker, where you can find the perfect painter CV template to match your career ambitions.
Painter CV example
Download this free painter and decorator CV sample in PDF.
In this painter CV sample, James highlights his proficiency in both residential and commercial painting and decorating. He excels in surface preparation, paint application, wallpapering, and understanding client requirements. His work experience, education, and achievement sections demonstrate his ability to handle diverse projects and mentor apprentices, while honing his professional techniques.
What to include in a painter CV?
While every CV is unique, certain sections are essential for showcasing a painter's technical skills, reliability, and attention to detail. We recommend including the following:
Contact information: Ensure your full name, contact details, and driving licence information are easy to find.
Personal profile: Write a concise summary highlighting your painting and decorating experience, areas of expertise (e.g., commercial, residential, industrial), and career goals.
Education: List your qualifications, apprenticeships, trade school certificates, and relevant workshops or safety training courses.
Skills: Highlight hard skills such as surface preparation, mixing and applying paints, spray painting, wallpapering, and operating access equipment. Include additional technical skills like colour matching, plaster repair, or decorative finishes.
Health & safety regulations: Showcase your understanding and adherence to safety regulations (e.g., COSHH, PPE use, working at heights) and your commitment to maintaining safe worksites.
Additional sections: Optionally, include references if they align with painting and construction roles.
Must-have CV sections
To kickstart the CV writing process, include these essential sections:
Personal profile
Skills
Work experience
Education.
Other trade professions, such as carpenters and interior designers, will have different ways of approaching writing a CV. So, take a moment to be inspired by different professions and give your CV some added depth.
How to write a personal profile for a painter and decorator CV
The personal profile on a CV is your professional handshake. It's your first impression, and your chance to quickly show an employer why you're the right fit. This section gives a brief overview of your skills and experiences, and shows you've done your homework about the job and company.
CV personal profile tips
Summarise your professional history, qualifications, and career goals in 4-6 lines.
Highlight your key expertise, such as residential and commercial painting, decorative finishes, spray painting, or surface preparation.
Align your profile with the specific job description, emphasising the technical skills and qualities the employer seeks.
Refer to our electrician CV or construction CV examples for more inspiration.
Painter CV personal profile examples
Painter and decorator CV personal profile example
Dedicated painter and decorator with over 5 years of experience in residential and commercial projects. Skilled in various painting techniques and known for meticulous attention to detail. Adept at client communication, understanding their vision, and delivering results that exceed expectations. Committed to continuous learning and upholding the highest standards of quality.
Senior painter CV personal profile example
Seasoned painter with over 10 years in the industry, specialising in large-scale commercial projects. Demonstrates leadership in guiding teams, ensuring timely project completion with exceptional quality. Combines technical expertise with strong interpersonal skills, fostering positive client relationships and mentoring junior team members. Upholds company values and consistently seeks innovative solutions.
Painter with no experience CV personal profile example
Motivated individual with a strong passion for painting and decorating. Completed a comprehensive training program in painting techniques and materials. Quick learner with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics. Possesses excellent communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a drive to deliver top-notch work. Ready to bring fresh perspectives and dedication to any team.
Artist painter CV personal profile example
Creative and versatile artist painter with a strong portfolio of commissioned and gallery-exhibited works. Skilled in multiple mediums, including oils, acrylics, and watercolours, with a passion for translating ideas into expressive visual art. Known for originality, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt style to client or project needs. Committed to continuous artistic development and engaging audiences through impactful artwork.
Spray painter CV personal profile example
Experienced spray painter with expertise in industrial, automotive, and commercial projects. Proficient in surface preparation, mixing and applying coatings, and using HVLP and airless spray systems. Recognised for precision, efficiency, and consistent high-quality finishes. Dedicated to meeting project deadlines while adhering to safety standards and client specifications.
Wall painter CV personal profile example
Reliable wall painter with hands-on experience in residential and commercial interior and exterior projects. Skilled in surface preparation, priming, colour matching, and applying a range of finishes. Known for delivering clean, even coats with attention to detail. Committed to completing projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
Car painter CV personal profile example
Detail-orientated car painter with specialist expertise in refinishing, colour matching, and spray application techniques. Experienced in working with a wide range of vehicles, from minor touch-ups to full resprays. Recognised for precision, durability of finishes, and the ability to restore vehicles to showroom quality. Dedicated to continuous skills development and maintaining top industry standards.
Self-employed painter CV personal profile example
Self-motivated painter and decorator with over 5 years of experience managing residential and commercial projects independently. Skilled in a full range of painting and decorating techniques, from surface preparation to decorative finishes. Experienced in client consultation, budgeting, and delivering results that meet or exceed expectations. Committed to providing reliable, high-quality services and building lasting client relationships.
How to list skills on a painter and decorator CV
Listing skills on your CV is more than just jotting down what you're good at. It's about showcasing your unique abilities that make you the right fit for the job. Your hard skills should be listed in a dedicated section, while your soft skills should be demonstrated through examples and context within your personal profile and work experience section.
Pro Tip
The key is to tailor your CV to the specific role you're applying for. By highlighting the right skills, you increase your chances of catching the eye of potential employers.
| Hard skills | Soft skills | |
|---|---|---|
| Experienced painter CV | Advanced painting techniques, knowledge of various paint types, surface preparation, scaffolding setup, and equipment maintenance. | Leadership, team coordination, time management, problem-solving, and customer service. |
| Painter apprentice CV | Basic painting techniques, equipment handling, surface cleaning, paint mixing, and brush maintenance. | Willingness to learn, adaptability, teamwork, attention to detail, and punctuality. |
| Spray painter CV | Spray paint application, equipment calibration, ventilation setup, paint thinning, and surface masking. | Precision, patience, efficiency, adaptability, and communication. |
How to showcase practical work experience on your painter CV
When compiling your work experience on a CV, clarity and simplicity are the best policies. Be sure to use a reverse chronological order, action verbs and incorporate CV keywords from a job description to make this section easy to follow.
What should each work experience entry include?
Job title of current or previous role
Organisation name and location
Dates of employment (month/year)
A concise paragraph detailing your duties
Followed by 2–3 bullet points that highlight your key achievements or measurable impact.
Work experience examples for a painter and decorator CV
Painter and decorator | Mount Brushmore Interior Services, London | 2018 - Present
Responsible for preparing and painting residential and commercial properties, ensuring high-quality finishes and customer satisfaction. Collaborated with clients to select appropriate colours and designs, and managed a team of three junior painters.
Completed over 50 projects within the last year, with a 95% client satisfaction rate.
Introduced a new technique that reduced paint drying time by 20%.
Painter apprenticeship | Hastings Borough Council, Hastings | 2024 - 2025
Assisted senior painters in various painting tasks, from surface preparation to final touch-ups. Gained hands-on experience in different painting techniques and tools, and actively sought feedback to improve skills.
Assisted in the completion of 30+ projects, consistently receiving positive feedback for attention to detail.
Suggested and implemented a new inventory system that reduced paint wastage by 15%.
Spray Painter | Newman Cars, Birmingham | 2022 - 2025
Specialised in spray-painting vehicles, ensuring smooth finishes and accurate colour matching. Maintained and calibrated spray painting equipment and collaborated with clients to understand specific requirements.
Successfully spray-painted over 200 vehicles in the past year, with zero complaints regarding finish quality.
Introduced a new paint mixing technique that improved colour accuracy by 25%.
Pro Tip
If you’re writing a CV with little to no work experience, focus on transferable skills like being a team player and time management.
Relevant qualifications and education for a painter CV
For painters and decorators, your education CV section might not seem as flashy as your portfolio or hands-on experience. But it's still a space to showcase your dedication and growth in the field. Whether you're applying as a residential painter, commercial decorator, or mural artist, here's how to make your education section pop.
If you're just starting out and don't have much work experience, look at a graduate CV example or consider using a skills-based CV format. Keep it short and sweet. A line or two for each educational point is enough to get the key details across.
How to format educational qualifications for a painter CV
A-Levels
[Qualification name], [Institution], [Location], [Years completed]
A-Levels: Art & Design (B), Design & Technology (B), Business Studies (C), Greenfield Sixth Form College, Leeds, 2020
GCSEs / Equivalent
[Qualification name], [Institution], [Location], [Year completed]
10 GCSEs with grades A–C, including English and Mathematics, Windham College, Norfolk, 2018
Apprenticeships and diplomas
[Qualification name], [Institution], [Location], [Year completed]
NVQ Level 2 in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations, Leeds College of Building, Leeds, 2023
Apprenticeships are an alternative way to enter the decorating industry whilst learning as you earn. Joining a recognised apprenticeship gives you the chance to perfect practical skills, develop creative competencies and work to an industry standard.
How to add additional certificates to your CV
If you've taken any extra courses and certificates related to painting and decorating, it's good to mention them. They can add an extra dimension to your offer and show you're a dedicated, well-trained professional.
How to format courses & certificates
[Course Name], [Issuer], [Issued Date]
Spray Painting & Finishing Techniques, 2025
Additional courses include:
Working at Heights Safety Training, 2025
Asbestos Awareness, 2025
Surface Preparation & Decorative Finishes Workshop, 2024
Manual Handling Certificate, 2023
First Aid at Work, St John Ambulance, 2021
Refer to our school leaver CV example for more inspiration.
How to write a painter CV with little to no experience
If you have little or no professional painting experience, consider using a student CV or simple CV template to effectively showcase your abilities, training, and practical projects.
Start with a personal statement reflecting your transferable skills, attention to detail, passion for painting and decorating, and willingness to learn.
Highlight relevant training or volunteer work, such as DIY projects, community painting initiatives, or practical assignments.
Learn more about how to write a painter CV with little to no experience.
Painter CV example with no experience
Download this free painter CV sample for non-experienced professionals in PDF.
Painter CV essentials
Create a master CV: This comprehensive document captures all your skills, experiences, and achievements, serving as a foundation for tailored role-specific CVs.
Write a good personal profile: This section sets the tone and gives employers a snapshot of who you are.
Highlight relevant skills: Tailor your skills section based on the specific role you're applying for, ensuring you showcase both your technical expertise and personal attributes.
Quantify your work experience: When detailing your expertise, use a clear format and always quantify your achievements. This provides tangible evidence of your contributions and the impact you've had in previous roles.
List your education: While your hands-on experience might be the highlight, don't neglect your education section. Showcase any relevant courses, certifications, or distinctions.
Choose an optimal CV format: It should effectively showcase your career path and suit the job's requirements.
Next steps?
Iron out any creases using our intuitive CV builder with 20+ CV templates and professional designs to choose from. To accompany your CV, discover our cover letter templates. If you don’t want to leave anything to chance, connect with our professional CV Writing Service. And for more career advice, check out our articles on how to get your first job, tips to find part-time jobs in the UK, or what not to say in a job interview.
FAQ
What is the average salary for a painter and decorator in the UK?
The average salary in the UK for a painter and decorator is around £30,000 per year, with salaries typically ranging from £26,000 to £34,000. Salaries can vary significantly by experience and job title, with experienced painters earning more, and specialised roles like industrial or commercial painting potentially offering different pay scales.
Are painters in demand in the UK?
Yes, painters and decorators are consistently in demand in the UK, especially with ongoing construction and renovation projects.
What qualifications do you need to be a painter?
While formal qualifications aren't always required, many painters pursue courses like the City & Guilds Painting and Decorating or NVQs in Decorative Finishing. Practical experience and a portfolio can also be beneficial.
Additionally, one of the many positives of being a painter and decorator is that you can apply for entry-level positions immediately after completing your GCSEs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or National 5 (N5) qualifications in Scotland.
What is the best format for a painter CV?
Selecting the right painter and decorator CV template is paramount. It not only structures your professional story, but also highlights your strengths.
The right format enhances readability and aligns with the job's demands, boosting your chances of catching an employer's eye. For instance, if you're changing careers, a skills-based format might be more appropriate, while those with a linear career progression might opt for a chronological format.
