Joby Carter, showman and signwriter, runs Carters Steam Fair (see photos here). Due to his touring schedule has never been able to attend a Letterheads event before, but that didn’t stop him from deciding to host one last month. Egged on by Mike Meyer, Ash Bishop and various others that fancied getting let loose with brushes and paint in his famous Maidenhead yard, the result was 'Abnormal Letterheads'. The November weekender was attended by 77 guests, including Joby’s original teacher, Stan Wilkinson, and others from as far afield as the Netherlands, Singapore, the USA and Germany.
Most of the work produced across the weekend was auctioned off at the end. This, and proceeds from the bar, raised over £6,300 the Teenage Cancer Trust. (More lettering for good!) Unfortunately I could only attend the first day, but the photos below capture some of the action. Joby is so fired up after hosting his first meet that he’s already planning another for November 2017!
Dapper Signs’ panel.You’re never far from lettering inspiration at Carter’s yard, this piece was getting a lot of attention.Flexing lettering.Alex May Hughes working some glass.Ged Palmer at work.Portion of panel promoting Joby’s popular signwriting workshops.New sign being painted for the bar!Some work from Colin Dundas.
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Mike Meyer pays tribute to Joby’s father, and founder of the fair, John Carter.Cheers! Alice Mazzilli and Alex May Hughes share a brew, with Jasper Andries from Amsterdam Sign Painters in the background.Letterheads is all about the novice, so here are some tips.Bob Perry from the Isle of Wight at work.Bob Perry & Wayne Osbourne.Easel reference.Work in progress on a panel inspired by the fair.Fairground-inspired panel.Joby’s mum dashed out this pictorial in no time at all on the front of a van.One of the fair’s support vans, now freshly lettered and ready for the road again.Ash Bishop at work on the side of the van.Mike Meyer provides lessons in cultural exchange.Easels ahoy in one of Joby’s sheds.Paint and paint sticks.Lettering from Joby Carter.Always hand paint, all the way from Singapore.Jakob from Copenhagen Signs in action.Some of Joby’s lettering.Prototype t-shire from Jakob at Copenhagen Signs, ordering details coming soon…Final piece from Jakob at Copenhagen Signs.Frank Carty at work on his panel.Panel from Frank Carty of Artisan Artworks.Joby’s teacher Stan Wilkinson back on the brush.First layer down on Stan Wilkinson’s panel, a tribute to the first sign shop he worked at.