Canal Folk Art

Canal Arts, 'Roses and Castles' decoration, narrowboat & barge signwriting and painters; by Tony Lewery.

The folk arts of the English canals are unusual because they were apparently born without clear historical ancestors, the origins of part of this traditional culture still remain a mystery.

The folk arts associated with the 'narrow boats' of the midland canals presumably cannot predate the boats themselves, and those boats were not in existence before the middle of the eighteenth century when the narrow canals were built. That is quite recent in art history terms. The first written and pictorial references to bright colours and painted roses and castles on canal boats do not occur until even later, in the mid nineteenth century. This was, therefore, an extraordinary flowering of a new folk art at a time when many other old trades and traditional ways of life were withering away.

Canal Art Heritage

• Canal Art Origins

How did a new folk art arise at a time when the Industrial Revolution was killing off traditional crafts? What on earth was so special about it?

• 'Roses and Castles'

Roses and Castles is the popular name for the traditional paintwork of the narrow boats, bunches of roses and medieval castles being common features.

• Narrowboat Decoration

The most powerful impression made by a traditional narrow boat is of lots of carefully contrasted coloured decoration, covering almost everything.

Canal Boat Painters

• Canal Signwriting

Hand painted signwriting is an important ingredient of canal boat decoration, often treated as another painted pattern to enhance the boat.

• The Canal Painters

The majority of the folk painting of the canals was done by professionals, but by professional boatbuilders not professional painters.

• Painters and Paints

Links to working canal boat painters, signwriters and decorators and links to companies supplying paint and painting supplies for canal boats.

Canal Crafts

• Canal Rope Work

The decorative ropework tradition of canal boats was a combination of strictly practical demands with the boatman's cultural need for elaboration.

• Cabin Crochet

With her cabin crochet work, the boatwoman was able to create with her own hands, beautiful articles to adorn her tiny cabin home. Written by Liz Bryant.

• Canalware & Crafts

Links to canal artists & canal crafts people, painters and suppliers of traditional canalware.

Canal Life

• Back Cabin Life

The secret heart of all the arts of the narrow boat world was the tiny cabin, a tiny space, but one which shaped the lives of the boat people.

• Canal Art Links

The best way to understanding & enjoy the folk art of the canal is to experience the real thing. But failing that we have some suggestions.

• Boats and Barges

We've a full section, also written by Tony Lewery, devoted to traditional canal boats and river craft.

Canal Art Works

• Flowers Afloat

Tony Lewery's beautifully illustrated and informative Canal Folk Art book, Flowers Afloat, explores the traditions and development of this art.

• Canal Lino Prints

Eric Gaskell has produced some striking limited edition lino-cuts of scenes around the Canal System.

• Canal Brightwork

Brightwork was the term used at boatyards in East Lancashire for the decorative paintwork and is the subject of a new book by Mike Clarke & Sam Yates.