> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://bl.ag/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Sign Painting a Festive Farewell to the Fair - URL: https://bl.ag/sign-painting-a-festive-farewell-to-the-fair/ - Published: 2022-07-12T17:59:51.000Z - Updated: 2023-06-05T19:44:56.000Z - Description: The Letterheads were out in force for the last ever Signwriting Festival at Carters Steam Fair. - Author: Better Letters - Tags: Events, Letterheads, Places Last weekend the Letterheads returned to Carters Steam Fair, and marked its final tour with a meet to remember. (The fair is currently [up for sale](https://www.carterssteamfair.co.uk/this-is-our-final-tour-carters-steam-fair-is-for-sale/?ref=bl.ag).) Around 100 painters turned up for the panel jam and auction, with most camping on site. This put everything in close proximity to the fair itself, which was in operation for all to enjoy on a sun-soaked weekend in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It was fairground owner Joby Carter's fifth [Letterheads meet](https://bl.ag/tag/letterheads/), rebranded for the wider public as a 'Signwriting Festival'. I'd previously been to (and [made a film](https://bl.ag/everyone-back-to-jobys/) about) the [Abnormal](https://bl.ag/joby-carters-abnormal-letterheads/) and [Collective](https://bl.ag/carters-collective-letterheads/) meets, but these were held in the fair's winter hideaway, the yard near Maidenhead. I missed the first one on the fair itself while moving abroad in 2019, and after the pandemic-enforced break had to get to this one, almost certainly the last of its kind. Thank you to Joby and all the Carters Steam Fair team for another outstanding event. Here are some highlights from this festive farewell to the fair. ## Come to the Fair The Alphabetics Anonymous team arrived first and got to work on pieces for the vehicle used the transport the Octopus ride. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/AA-Come-to-the-Fair-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/AA-Come-to-the-Fair-2.JPG) Team work from Alphabetics Anonymous. ![Painted vehicle panel saying 'come to the fair'](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/AA-Come-to-the-Fair-3.JPG) The finished piece, a mobile advertisement for Carters Steam Fair as it makes its last tour. ![Fairground ride with elaborate painted decoration and lettering.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-7.JPG) The Octopus ride that the vehicle carries when the fair is on the move. ## Panel Jamming The heartbeat of any meet is the panel jam, which consists of grabbing a spot on an easel and working on a project, usually connected to the event in some way. Lots had brought along finished, or almost finished, panels, so that they could make the deadline of the auction at the end of the first day. This was helped by the sun and heat which made for good drying speeds. New to BLAG (Better letters Magazine) and enjoying this article?[ Sign up now for a free subscription](https://bl.ag/#/portal/signup) to unlock even more sign painting resources and the latest news. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-11.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-01.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-02.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-03.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-04.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-06.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-07.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-09.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Panel-Jam-10.JPG) Finished panels and work-in-progress at the signwriting festival. From left to right, top to bottom: Dapper Signs helping to sell the fair; Pekka Mannermaa's tribute to one of the rides; Ginny Barlow's canal boat-inspired panel; Christin Clement Louth behind work from Phil Agnew; Peter Anthony gilding; Stuart Duncumb; Pekka Mannermaa adding to Helen Ingham's work on the guitar; Bevelled Letterheads (I can't recall who did it, please let me know); and John May. ## All for a Good Cause Joby's events have previously raised thousands of pounds for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, and this one was no different. Lots of the panels were auctioned off, with one painting fetching £1,400. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-01.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-02.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-05.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-07.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-04.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-08.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-10.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Auction-09.JPG) Panels on display ahead of the main event, and then shown off by an elite team of glamourous assistants. ## Bitter Sweet History On his way to the event, David Kynaston visited John Leeson's surviving family to collect a variety of his tools, materials and other sign painting paraphernalia. (John Leeson was a sign painter and committed Letterhead who died in October last year while the meet in Norwich was taking place.) Lots of this was passed onto younger painters who will now continue John's legacy armed with his tools. Also among the items filling the back of David's van were a number of pieces from the Midland Medieval Mayhem meet that John hosted in Leicester in 1997\. One of these was a vinyl circle, tablemat size, that had been grained and signed by those that attended the event. There were also a host of panels that John kept from the meet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-11.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-14.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-16.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-17.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-18.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-20.JPG) Signatures on the vinyl circle created during John Leeson's Midland Medieval Mayhem meet in Leicester, 1997. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-03.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Medieval-Mayhem-10-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Backup-Black-Jon-Leeson.JPG) Panels by David Kynaston and Neil Melliard, and just one of the cool bits from John Leeson's various tools and materials. ## Kits and Vans With the event in full swing, I took a walk around with the camera to capture some of the sign kits and sign painter vans on show. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Open-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Amy-Goodwin-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Tomos-Momo-Signs.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-David-Kynaston-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Ged-Palmer.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-George-Metcalf-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Mia-Warner-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Mick-Pollard.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Kit-Stuart-Duncumb-1.JPG) Sign kits at the meet. From left to right, top to bottom: Archie Salandin, Irregular Signs; Amy Goodwin; Tomos, Momo Signs; David Kynaston; Ged Palmer, Luminor Sign Company, George Metcalf; Mia Warner; Mick Pollard; Stuart Duncumb. If you like sign kits then check out [these vintage and antique ones at the American Sign Museum](https://bl.ag/signkits/), and [this collection of contemporary boxes from Alphabetics Anonymous](https://www.alphabeticsanonymous.com/shenannigans?ref=bl.ag). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Van-David-Kynaston-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Van-Mick-Pollard-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Van-Dapper-Signs-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Van-Handpainted-by-Dan-2.JPG) Vans from David Kynaston, Mick Pollard, James Cooper (Dapper Signs), and Dan Luckin (Painted by Dan) with a cheeky bit of trompe-l'œil on the back of his. ## All the Fun of the Fair It'll be sad to no longer see the fair set up on greens and commons across Southeast England. However, it is going out with a bang, and the Letterheads certainly joined in with this last hurrah. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-3.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-4.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-5.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-6.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-8.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/07/Fair-9.JPG) The fair by day, and night. --- ### More Letterheads and Fairs [Letterheads Meets on Better Letters MagazineReviews, photo galleries, and films of Letterheads meets.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/05/BLAG_Favicon.png)BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)Better Letters![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/01/Featured-1.JPG)](https://bl.ag/tag/letterheads/) Letterheads meets around the world reviewed at bl.ag online. [Stunning Photos Of Vintage Fairground Signs By Fred FowlePreviously unpublished photos and documentary on Fred Fowle.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/BLAG_Issue_2_Favicon.png)BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)Better Letters![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/01/Dingles_00119.jpg)](https://bl.ag/our-business-is-fun-with-fred-fowle/) The fairground art of Fred Fowle. [Lettering at Carters Steam FairA visit to the fair, and meeting head signwriter Joby Carter.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/BLAG_Issue_2_Favicon.png)BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)Better Letters![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/01/Carters-Steam-Fair-92.JPG)](https://bl.ag/lettering-at-carters-steam-fair/) A visit to Carters Steam Fair at Clissold Park in 2014. [When Better Letters Met Stan WilkinsonBiopic signwriter and fairground artist Stan Wilkinson.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/05/BLAG_Favicon.png)BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)Better Letters![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/24/aa/24aaa208-ebb0-4f83-bc52-1f4f253367c8/content/images/2022/01/Stan-Wilkinson-at-Gallopers.jpg)](https://bl.ag/stan/) Biopic of Stan Wilkinson, the man who lettered the fair.