Cool canals Guides & Waterways Directory

Modern waterways art

Modern art on the waterways is a colourful tale of community arts, commercial art, installations by the governing body British Waterways, narrowboat design, and all the ordinary people who visit, live or work on the waterways today.

Art is at the cutting edge on the waterways as much today as it was back in the 17th & 18th centuries.

Narrowboats

Narrowboats are not just vessels of transport; they are aesthetically designed and decorated with passion.
Some modern narrowboats replicate the traditional colours of roses and castles, but some launch with their own style.
You'll see boats cruising the waters with paintwork on any theme including Mondrian patterns, musical images of saxophonists and banjo players, frogs wearing trousers and caps, headless queens and even cats with whiskers!

Artists & photographers

All the drama and dreaminess of the waterways make perfect subject matter for commercial artists and, in keeping with canal culture, many artists are self taught.
There is always a market for paintings, photographs and prints of canal landscapes to hang in landlocked living rooms.

Garth Allan, artist, Guildford

Artist on the Waterways, Sylvia Hankin, London

Rick Pickett, artist, Northampton

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'Live-aboard' craftspeople Brian Greaves Artist blacksmith T:07968 019203 Victoria Hignell & Dave Tipping T:07976 769903 Canalware & rope fenders Michelle Martin Art & canalware T:01782 860863 michelle@michellemartin.co.uk Brian McGuigan Rope fender maker (* Journeyman status) T:07976 811073 enquiries@bcnboats.co.uk Jenny Oliver Art/sculpture T:07899 771576 jennyoliver7@btinternet.com Jane Selkirk Canalware (* Journeyman status) T:07745 259714 jscanalware@googlemail.com   * status = Waterways Craft Guild accreditation

'Live-aboard' craftspeople

Living in a narrowboat home with a craft studio onboard is more than a dream for some. The canals are sprinkled with liveaboard art and craft businesses, all earning their living afloat travelling the inland waterways.

Sculpture & art trails

As you travel the towpath, don't be alarmed if you come across large men cast in stone, steel swans caught midflight, or giant tin dragonflies ~ sculpture comes big and beautiful on the waterways...

Some canals have designated art trails. Take a stroll on the Coventry Canal Art Trail and it's as if you are visiting a linear art gallery - community and professional art borders the water and you'll meet, amongst other wierd and wonderful artwork,

• fish seats
• spray-painted murals
• the wooden sculpture of a mooring dolly to sit on when you get tired

Further south, on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal in Somerset, a specially created 'space walk' takes you on a galactical treat past true-scale sculptures of the planets. Start at the sun and, after a morning's walk on this unusual art trail, you could end up at the pub just past Pluto!

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