Fairground Art and Heritage Tours
Our fair is famous for our large collection of working vintage fairground rides and vintage transport dating from the 1890s to the 1960s, all of which have been loving restored using traditional signwriting techniques and fairground styles. We take pride in keeping our rides looking as fresh as they did when they were new.
The traditional artwork and hand painted lettering at the fair has become a social media sensation in its own right. Tik Tok videos of fairground owner Joby Carter painting straight lines and lettering have amassed nearly 400,000 views. Over 3000 people all over the world have joined Joby Carters virtual signwriting and lettering courses and 5000 copies of his book ‘Signwriting Tips, Tricks and Inspiration’ that was published during the pandemic have been sold. The global interest in these traditional signwriting and fairground art skills has helped save the fair and ensured it can continue to be on the road for everyone to enjoy.
At selected locations Joby Carter offers guided tours of the rides and sidestalls talking about the history of the rides and the lettering styles and artwork that have been used to decorate them authentically.
Art tours in 2022.
Sunday 1st May: Maidenhead, Pinkneys Green. Talk topic is vintage vehicles and transport.
Sunday 24 July, Lichfield. Talk topic is fairground art and signwriting.
Discover fairground art through the decades
A visit to the fair gives a unique chance to see these beautiful examples of fairground art and fancy lettering up close.
The fairground art tour is a unique chance to see the fair and the beautiful artwork up close. Guests are encouraged to bring a sketch book or their camera to capture memories and design inspiration.
On the tour you will learn about the history of the art on the fair, how long each ride took to paint and so much more while answering your questions along the way. This is also a great time to meet all of our other Patrons and the community of Carters Steam Fair enthusiasts we have built over the last year.
Now Booking:
Sunday 1 May: 11am
Join Joby Carter’s art and history tour with a focus on the transport we use to pull and power our rides.
Location – Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead
Sunday 24 July: 11am
Join Joby Carter’s art and history tour with a focus on fairground art and signwriting
Location – Beacon Park, Lichfield Maidenhead
If you’d like to join the tours you can book via our Patreon site. You’ll need to sign up to Patreon and select a month’s membership for £5 + VAT. This will give you access to book the tour and other exclusive signwriting content for Patreon members.
If after your first month of membership you decide that you don’t want to continue your monthly subscription to support our restoration projects, you can leave at any time.
Would not have missed this opportunity for the world, Not just a photographers paradise whatever camera you have in your hand but a way of seeing a huge part of the history of Steam. Thank you!”
Patricia Meakins
Bath Fairground Art Tour 2018