“When you know how to truly see lettering, you’ll never look at the world in the same way again.”
Joby Carter
Hello from me, Joby Carter. Roundabout proprietor, signwriter and fairground artist I own Carters Steam Fair, the largest travelling vintage funfair in the world. I was just twenty months when we opened our fair in 1977 and I’ve been fascinated by the artwork, history and lettering ever since. When I left school I studied an apprenticeship with master craftsman Stan Wilkinson which continued a four-generation signwriting line. Now with over thirty years’ experience of restoring our vintage rides and attractions, I’m proud to be one of the world’s leading experts on signwriting, fancy lettering and fairground art.
I’m passionate about sharing these skills with others so that the traditional art of signwriting is passed on to future generations. You can join me in one of my weekend or week-long signwriting workshop classes in Berkshire or learn at home with a virtual course. You can also come to the fair in any of our tour locations for the chance to see one of the largest working collections of traditional signwriting, lining, fancy lettering and traditional fairground decoration in the world.
Learn with Joby
Virtual Online Courses
Workshop Courses
From our paintshop in Maidenhead, Berkshire I run week long signwriting courses as well as some weekend art and taster courses.
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Joby Carter Signwriting Book Tips, Tricks & inspiration
AVAILABLE NOW an entertaining and immersive guide to the wonderful world of traditional signwriting and fairground art, from the unique perspective of Joby Carter of Carters Steam Fair.
Crammed with over 370 juicy full-colour photographs of inspiring brush-painted signwriting and fairground art ,with lots of useful tips and clever tricks to help you draw and paint great letters, this book shows you how to do things the old way.
This book promises to be an indispensable studio companion.
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Joby Carter Originals
NEW! In May 2020 I began my series of Joby Carter Originals. They are unique one off hand painted signs. Painted with messages and slogans such as ‘Thank You’ & ‘Tea & Biscuits’ The signs make perfect gifts or brilliant wall art to brighten your own home.
My Joby Carter Original signs are available to purchase each Sunday at 1pm from the Carters Steam Fair shop. The first sign was bought within 40 seconds and the entire first collection was gone within 9 minutes! So be quick to grab yourself a sign.
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Joby Carter Design
In April 2020 along with Scarlett our longstanding digital designer Carters Limited Edition Alphabet Poster was created. It features a selection of all the letters of the alphabet A -Z that can be found on Carters Steam Fair.
Only 500 have been printed and each one is numbered and signed. This selection of letters were originally hand painted by signwriters Stan Wilkinson, Aaron Stephens and myself at the fair.
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Showman and signwriter – a 21st century Victorian
Watch Joby Carter as he talks about his appreciation for the artform and how the work of signwriting masters has inspired his work.
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