Bits and bobs

First ever one day signwriting taster course!

New! 5-day intensive Fairground Art course booking now

It's now 30 years since the legendary fairground painter Fred Fowle died. One my first jobs during my apprenticeship was to restore and repaint a Hall & Fowle piece, and it gave me a huge appreciation for their skill and talent, and taught me a lot about the construction of the designs and the way they were painted. Due to popular demand, I've decided to give you the same opportunity, using one of the Fowle-painted panels from Carters Steam Fair as a basis for a new 5-day intensive fairground art course.

This unique course will teach you the basics of the fairground painting tradition, from lining and shading to scrolls, gilding, marbling, flamboyant painting, layout and design. You will be provided with a large prepared board and will have the opportunity to make your own version of this beautiful panel painted by legendary fairground artist Fred Fowle, which you can take home at the end.

If you would like to have a go at painting a miniature galloper horse instead (see pictured), get in touch. They cost an additional £400+VAT, and we need to buy them in in advance of the course. Alternatively, if you would rather work on your own piece, you can bring it with you (please contact us to confirm beforehand).

All materials are provided for the duration of the course, except for gold leaf which will be available at cost price if you would like to add it to your design. You will have the opportunity to buy your own equipment at the end of the week.

The course runs from 9am till 5pm every day, and lunch and hot drinks are provided. The courses hold a maximum of 14 people, and we work on a first-come, first-served basis.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Galloper top frame decorated this winter

Painting course November 2013

Voltini's sideshow! The one for you!

New signwriting course for February 2014 - BOOKING NOW!

For more information and to book a place on the course, click here

The Royal Windsor

Here is our future home undergoing a full restoration at our White Waltham HQ, as you can see there are a few yards of coach lines on this forty two foot wagon. Built in 1954 by Southerns for Kay and Ronnie Smart of Billy Smarts circus fame,  the wagon was one of three branded the Royal Windsors.

Gallopers

Here is something you don't see every day, Carters jubilee steam gallopers built up in the grounds of St Johns college.

Mayhews Galloper rounding boards

We have very nearly finished this epic project, these are the rounding boards from a friend of mines galloping horses. We recently painted 24 of the 36 mounts for this ride.

4 signwriters and the steam yachts.

The first Signwriter I can remember working for my parents was a man called Chris Hopes. Chris did the boat ends and gag tickets on the steam yachts. Soon after Stan Wilkinson added to them and some time later myself and also Aaron. Not to mention the fabulous scenic paintings that my mum Anna has painted on the ride, also John Pocket was responsible for the sides of the boats and the first paint job of the legs (which have been redone twice since)

The point is, a fairground ride is very often a work in progress, ever changing and trying to remain fresh to entice the public to ride it.

Buses!

Here are a couple of buses that Aaron wrote a while ago, they just popped down to the fair for the day.