After the success of Joby’s first ever Signwriting Sunday event, a second date has been added.

On Sunday 24 March 2024, Joby will be opening the doors of his restoration workshop for anyone with a love or interest in hand painted lettering to visit. They will be able to see signwriters in action painting in a variety of different styles of lettering and they can also stock up on signwriting supplies from Joby Carter’s range of professional signwriting supplies which includes brushes, palettes, mahl sticks and paints. Alongside the signwriting event there will also be the opportunity to buy Carters Steam Fair memorabilia including publicity posters and original drawings used to create artwork at the fair. Joby also has many unique examples of hand painted lettering which will be available to purchase on the day.

Above: Joby paints a sign at the previous Signwriting Sunday event while visitors watch. 

Above: Any remaining banners or posters from Carters Steam Fair will be available to buy. 

Above: A great chance to stock up on paints, brushes and other signwriting supplies. 

Above: A ‘health and safety’ sign painted by Joby at the previous event. 

Signwriting Sunday 24 March event details

This event is an ‘open house’ type event where you can drop in at any time and see all of the different hand painted signs on the walls of the workshops. Throughout the day you’ll be able to watch signwriting demonstrations from Joby, Aaron Stephens and some guest signwriters. Joby is keen to showcase the different styles and skillsets of contemporary signwriters.

Date: Sunday 24 March 10-4pm.
Entry: Free all day. (No need to book)
Address: Carters Yard, Grove Park Industrial Estate, Waltham Road, White Waltham, Maidenhead, SL6 3JF
Parking: Free parking on the roads in the industrial estate
Nearest station: Maidenhead station on the Elizabeth line is approximately £12-£15 in a taxi (15 minute journey)

Joby Carter says:

The first event was a huge success, and it was a great way to celebrate the craft. I’ve always been very open to encouraging more people to learn about signwriting. Upskilling others adds to the whole signwriting community. If you show people how traditional signwriting is created, it makes them appreciate it and value it even more, which encourages the craft even more.

I feel quite duty bound to share these skills. I was very lucky that I was shown how to signwrite so now I’m more than happy to encourage new people to signwrite and keep the traditional skills alive.

I learned in the early 1990s when it was going out of fashion and not many were learning the skills, but now it’s back in vogue, people love it.

I see it as my job to do whatever I can do to help keep it alive, help promote it. Some people may do it as a profession, some do it as a hobby, but long may it continue and carry on. If I can be just a little part of that then I’m very happy to encourage it.

Free, professional advice about signwriting

The event is an excellent opportunity to watch professionals paint and to ask questions about signwriting and traditional decorative skills. Whether it’s a question about paints, brushes or techniques, Joby and team will be on hand to answer your questions.

Special guests

At each Signwriting Sunday event, Joby invites signwriters to showcase their work and talk about the different roles they have found for themselves in the signwriting industry.

At this event we have Michell da Silva from @dasilva.signs, a Maidenhead based signwriter who previously completed Joby’s traditional signwriting course. Michell is a professional signwriter using traditional skills to create a range of designs, many of which can be seen on shop fascia’s, display boards and signs around Maidenhead and the surrounding area. You can see his work at Rio Deli cafe in Maidenhead library, outside Grilled Grub in the High Street and in the Windsor Guildhall on the mayor’s honors board.

A recent graduate from Joby’s traditional signwriting course will also be present.

Signwriting Shop

Joby has published two books about signwriting. His first book, Signwriting Tips, tricks and Inspiration shares many of the professional secrets of the trade and is an ideal book for anyone with an interest in finding out more about traditional signwriting. His second book, All the Fonts of the Fair is packed full of inspiration for creating fancy, fairground style lettering and has 26 unique hand painted alphabets to inspire you. Whichever book is right for you, Joby will be available to sign copies and to answer any signwriting related questions for you.

Hand painted lettering available to buy

Joby is having a big yard clear out and has a wide range of hand painted signs available to buy. This includes old panels painted for painting courses or panels painted during courses. He also has at least 60 decorative panels from Carters Steam Fair and hundreds of single letters from All the Fonts of the Fair. He will also be selling hundreds of original drawings and tracings used to create artwork for rides and sidestalls at Carters Steam Fair.

Find out more

Sign up to Joby’s newsletter to stay in the loop with updates about this event or to see more details about the different signs available to buy, follow Joby on Instagram. You can see more photos and read about the first Signwriting Sunday event here.