What is Canal Art?

Canal Art, sometimes lovingly called “Roses and Castles,” is a traditional decorative painting style that dates back to the 19th century. It flourished on the narrowboats that travelled the UK’s canal networks, turning everyday items like water cans, stools, and cabin doors into mini masterpieces.

Imagine bold roses, playful scrolls, and fairytale-like castles — all hand-painted with a rhythm and style that’s unmistakable. It’s cheerful, it’s vibrant, and it tells a story with every brushstroke.

Who Painted It — and Why?

Originally, Canal Art was created by boaters themselves — often entire families living and working on the waterways. These boats were their homes, and they used art to bring beauty and pride into what could be a very tough and nomadic lifestyle. Some families even developed their own unique styles and “signatures.”

It was practical too! Painted signs marked ownership, bright colours helped identify boats from a distance, and floral motifs brightened up the often-gray British weather.

As the industrial age evolved and canals became less central to trade, the culture of living on narrowboats started to fade. Fewer boats meant fewer painters. The traditional skills, passed down by hand and eye, weren’t written in textbooks or stored in fancy galleries. They lived in practice — and sadly, started to disappear.

Today, Canal Art is classed as an endangered folk art in the UK. That’s why it’s so important to keep it alive — not in a museum, but in our homes, hearts, and hands

Here’s the fun part: Canal Art isn’t just for boaters anymore. You don’t need to live on a narrowboat to enjoy it. In fact, it’s the perfect way to add character to modern life.

In my studio, I teach accessible, beginner-friendly courses that give you the confidence to pick up a brush and learn the art of the comma stroke and teardrop flourish. You’ll walk away with skills to decorate mugs, coasters, canvases — you name it!

And for those who’d rather admire than paint (we all have our gifts!), I create hand-painted pieces perfect for gifting or bringing a pop of traditional beauty into a contemporary space. Picture a canal art mug on your kitchen shelf or a painted flower pot on your windowsill — instant joy

Whether you’re here out of curiosity, nostalgia, or a love of beautiful things — welcome. Canal Art has plenty of room for everyone.