Joby Carter

Workshop Courses with Joby Carter

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 in-person signwriting and art workshops at the Carters Steam Fair yard in While Waltham near Maidenhead, Berkshire.

With a choice of one-day, weekend or week-long courses available, students can fully immerse themselves into learning with all course materials, lunch and refreshments available. You’ll be learning in the heart of a real working yard and will be able to see different restoration projects happening around you, in addition to a wide range of real life signwriting examples.

For those wishing to stay over, there are a range of hotels in the local area which are detailed in the downloadable course fact sheets on each course page.

There are just 15 spaces available on each course which book up quickly, attracting a global audience. Book early to avoid disappointment. We are currently taking bookings for our in-person workshops this Winter and are following the relevant government guidance regarding Covid-19

Five Day Intensive Signwriting Course

You’ll learn the basics of traditional signwriting, from layout and design, to shading, lining and brushwork, and you’ll have your own painted sign (and new-found skills) to take home with you at the end of the week. All materials are provided for the duration of the course, except for gold leaf which is available at cost price if you would like to add it to your design. Please wear old clothes that you don’t care about – you will get painty! Lunch and hot drinks are also provided. You have the opportunity to buy your own equipment at the end of the week.

New dates coming soon, for more information about the course click here

Fancy Lettering & Fairground Art Workshop

This action-packed weekend offers a rare opportunity to learn about the secretive craft of fairground painting, including fancy lettering. This workshop shows advanced painting techniques, and is best suited to people who have experience of signwriting already. There will be demonstrations of techniques and styles, and an opportunity to get hands-on and practice your fairground flourishes. The workshop will cover block lettering, the 3D effect, understanding shadows, gold leaf & gilding, flamboyant painting, blending, lining and much more.

New dates coming soon, for more information about the course click here

One Day Signwriting Taster

Do you work in the creative industries and have an interest in letterform and typography? Our one-day course is part of our ‘ditch the digital’ movement which encourages you to reconnect with your creativity by getting hands-on with designing and visualising lettering layouts without a computer. Hosted by professional signwriter and industry expert Joby Carter, you’ll have an introduction to the essential signwriting techniques including handling a paint brush, brushwork techniques, using a mahl, and traditional ways of visualising and layout. Whilst he can’t teach you to signwrite in a day, through a mixture of demonstrations and one to one feedback he will ensure that you have the confidence to progress in this field if you are interested in learning more.

New dates coming soon, for more information about the course click here

Follow Joby