Cool canals Guides & Waterways Directory

Signwriting

Bursting with all the bright colours of the canals, traditional signwriting is an art to be appreciated.

On today's narrowboats, names can be stencilled on and simple sticky designer plastic can be used, but nothing beats the dynamics of traditional signwriting and the life that is breathed into a boat's name through freehand precision...

Names donning today's narrowboats say something new about the waterways.
Go name-spotting anywhere on the waterways and you'll see narrowboats with names such as 'Spending the kids' inheritance', 'Tranquillity' and 'Dreamboat'.
The traditional art of signwriting gives a narrowboat its colourful identity...

Working narrowboats were often signwritten with their company's name.

Traditional Signwriters:

Ginny Barlow, Bath

Tim Hobbs, Kennet & Avon Canal

Will Jones, Malvern

Dave Moore, Brierley Hill

SAB Signs, Sheila Smith, Midlands

Phil Speight, Wordsley, Stourbridge

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