Humble beginning, artistic fleur and determination are not just an understatement to describe the journey of a person like John Mary Baldacchino known with his friends and acquaintances as Jimmy “l-isprayer”. George’s Garage named after his father George. His passion for painting started in his teen years. Jimmy, known for his dedicated work for renovating all type of commercial vehicles including
base preparation for body work before he gets on with his spray gun to turn that reflective mirror finished panels whilst with his free hand, he signs off the curves to handwrite those images much look forward by his customers. With Malta’s economic development commercial vehicles were increasing their size and capacity , Jimmy decided to move his humble beginnings elsewhere and a larger workshop on the arterial road just in the cross road between Siggiewi and Zebbug. In 1991, all work was set and it was baptised as James Garage. At James Garage, Jimmy continued to aspire his fellow customers with his sign writing in spray or brush painting. He was entrusted contracts on yachts, speedboats including the only national shipping line, the SEA MALTA ships. Jimmy was instrumental for the success of EVS Racing Team. He formed part of a team of individuals who ran the SISU quarter mile truck at its best and he was the master mind to modify the SISU’s bodywork with various aerodynamics modifications, spray painting and sign writing. Not resting on his laurels, Jimmy ambitiously joined a competition organised by Spies Hecker. The German manufacturer handpicked Jimmy’s paintjob out of over 24,000 other contenders whom were all competing from around the globe for this prestigious award. His work was photographed at his garage in Zebbug and his achievement made headlines as the first ever Maltese to have won such a competition. The photo shoot is remembered on an official 2008 calander which lies hanging on the picturesque wall inside his workshop. Following his success story, in 2009 Jimmy along with his son Julian went ahead in setting up a state of the art graphic studio which they named Beejays Signs which today specialises in creative customised graphics, signs, artwork design, large format printing, window graphics, vehicle wrapping, and caters for all kind of commercial and heavy plant vehicles. Julian, the creative thinker by profession has since developed the art graphic studio. He specialised in design work, elaborate professional use of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, and a printing guru. Julian stands out for his mellow but determined character preserving his smile when a customer taps his shoulder to show appreciation towards another well done job. On the other hand Jimmy, a truly character, a humble personality, a great friend to all of those who by one way or another has either used his services or happened to be a friend with interest in the haulage and trucking business.
