Learning with Carters Steam Fair

We are technically a family of artists and the fair is our canvas!

Traditional skills in a digital age

One of the features which makes Carters Steam Fair unique is the decoration of its engines, rides and transport with consistently superb signwriting, lining and traditional fairground decoration created by Joby Carter and his team. Joby is a leading expert on the traditional craft of sign writing and fairground art and hosts training courses at the Carters Yard throughout the year.

You can be the first to know about new courses and signwriting products by joining our mailing list. 

We also stock a range of signwriting supplies and resources – more details below! 

Signwriting, Fancy Lettering and Fairground Art

Joby Carter is keen to encourage the traditional craft and standards of signwriting to keep this important skill alive. He learned his signwriting skills from master craftsman Stan Wilkinson and when the fair is not on tour, he hosts signwriting and art workshops at the yard in While Waltham near Maidenhead. His courses are very popular and book up quickly, and he has had people travelling from all over Europe and further afield to take part.

Apply for funding for your course

Signwriting, gilding, fairground art and coach painting are heritage skills and some organisations offer funding to those interested in learning these traditional skills.  

We encourage you to research funding opportunities with QEST, Heritage Crafts, Lettering Arts Trust and the Crafts Council

 

5 day intensive signwriting courses

Joby Carter’s course covers all the basics of traditional signwriting. From layout and design, to shading, lining and brushwork. By the end of the course you will have your own painted sign (and new-found skills) to take home with you at the end of the week.

Now booking for Spring 2023

Fancy lettering and fairground art

Joby Carter is leading expert on fairground art and signwriting.  At selected times throughout the year he hosts courses on fairground art and the advanced techniques used in fancy lettering.

Dates coming soon, sign up to our newsletter below to hear them first.

All things gold - gilding techniques

In this comprehensive four day overview of gilding techniques you’ll learn how to use gold and aluminium leaf on a variety of two dimensional and three dimensional projects.

The course features a mix of live demonstrations and you will have plenty of opportunities to get ‘hands-on’ and try techniques.

Find out more about signwriting with Joby Carter

Stay up to date with the latest signwriting news from Joby Carter.

If you’d like to stay in the loop with the latest news from Joby Carter including his heritage arts courses and new wall art prints, posters and hand painted signs, you can join his newsletter on his new Jobycarter.com website.

Signwriting Supplies and Inspiration

Whether you have a professional interest as a signwriter, graphic designer, tattoo artist or typographer or just love letters and fairground art, we offer a range of books and materials to help you learn more about the traditional art of signwriting.

Fairground art and signwriting book

Forget the fancy software, computers and digital apps, this book will inspire you to create beautiful letterforms the ‘old way’ using tips that have been handed down through generations of skilled signwriters. Crammed with over 370 full-colour photographs of inspiring brush-painted signwriting and fairground art you’ll find plenty of useful tips and clever tricks to help you draw and paint great letters.

Signwriting supplies

Want to get started with signwriting at home? Having the correct tools is always a great way to start.

Discover our range of signwriting supplies including pre-prepared signwriting boards in a variety of colours, signwriting brushes, dippers, palettes, mahl sticks and Craftmaster paint.

Carters Alphabet Poster

Fancy letters and fairground art posters

Posters and fairground art have gone hand in hand for decades and we have a range of unique posters featuring our iconic fairground rides and fancy lettering styles. Perfect for a home office or children’s bedroom. We even offer free delivery when you spend £40.

Learning & Activites: More than just a fair

A visit to the fair is full of fun for children of all ages. But Carters Steam Fair is much more than that. With rides dating from the 1890s to the 1960s and powered by steam, by electric and even by hand, there is plenty to learn too. We’ve created activities that can be done at home before or after your visit to the fair.

Brush up on your fairground knowledge

How many common fairground phrases and words do you know? Read through our list and see if you can find them all in our Wordsearch challenge.

Design your own Galloper horse

Many of the horses on our Galloper ride are named after members of the Carter family. If you were inspired by what you saw at the fair you can design your own horse too.

Design your own Scammell Truck

We use vintage trucks to transport and power our fairground rides. What colours would you choose to paint your own truck and what name would you write on it?

Visiting and hiring the fair

Planning a Visit?

If you have questions around visiting the fair then you might like to check out our FAQs section.

Our event times and dates can be found on the visit us page.

Want to feature the fair in a video or photoshoot?

If you’d like to talk to us about hiring the fair, or about a feature for film or television, you’ll find our hire section has lots of information.