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Folk Art From The UK's Traveling Carnival

The painted rides of Hull Fair

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Aug 18, 2026
∙ Paid

Written By Keaton B McD

Fair ground art is one of the UK’s last remaining folk arts. Pioneered in the 19th century by showmen seeking to stand out from the competition, the form has evolved as rides have, and today stands as its own genre, with its own class of artisans.

In the 1800s, the form was defined by handwritten signage and banners. As rides got b…

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