Joby Carter workshop open day: hand painted lettering

On Saturday 3 May 2025, the doors to Joby Carter’s signwriting workshop in Street will be open to the public for an open day designed to showcase the traditional skill of signwriting to a wider audience.

What can you see at the Joby Carter workshop open day?

The open day will provide a rare opportunity for the public to see signwriters painting a variety of lettering in different styles. It’s an ‘open house’ type event where visitors can come and see a variety of different hand painted signs on the walls of the workshop as well as watch live demonstrations including how to use a lining brush to paint lines freehand and how to blend two colours.

The event is a chance to ask questions about signwriting and traditional decorative skills or to simply watch, enjoy and take photos of these traditional decorative skills in action.

• Demonstrations will be available throughout the day.
• You can also enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee while you watch the demonstrations.

Joby’s signwriting supply shop which sells specialist enamel paint, brushes, Joby’s books and other signwriting materials will be open throughout the open day. Visitors can also browse the signwriting gift section which includes fine art prints of Joby’s lettering designs, fridge magnets, jigsaws and the hand painted alphabet letters from Joby's book All the Fonts of the Fair.

Joby says: 

"The aim of the day is to spread the love of traditional signwriting and keep up the interest in the craft.  

I was very lucky that I was shown how to signwrite the traditional way from a master signwriter who himself had learned via an apprenticeship acquiring trade secrets and skills that can be traced back to the Victorian age. I learned in the early 1990s when it was going out of fashion and not many were learning the skills.  

I’ll be 50 this year and I feel quite duty bound to share these skills: we need new people to come into it to carry this on when we're not here anymore. 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. Hosting a free open day is a great way to showcase the traditional skills to a new audience. Of course, there'll be signs you can buy and prints you can take home on the day, but you can come and spend nothing and just enjoy yourself. I welcome everyone of all ages to come along and see for themselves. "  

Photos and video at the event: 

Photos and videos will be taken by the Joby Carter team during the open days. These images will be used on social media, online and may be shared with third party websites and publications eg local press. If you would prefer to not to be included in imagery please flag this with a member of the team on the day.  

If you need to contact us after the event you can do so by emailing [email protected] 

Details:

Admission: Free entry for all. Well behaved dogs are welcome on a lead.
Address: Unit 18 Rockhaven Business Centre, Gravenchon Way, Street, BA16 0HW

Parking

There is free parking in the neighbouring areas but please park sensibly and courteously.

Travel:

• 13 miles from Castle Cary Train station
• 28 miles from Bristol Temple Meads Train station
• 25 miles from Bristol Airport
• 5min walk from Bus Stop at Sainsburys Street

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Host or Publisher Joby Carter