The Roses & Castles
The World of the Canal Ware Art in UK

Boaters in old days tried to make their boat look nice. They decorated their boats and boat wares with oil paint. There were variety of paintings -- various flowers, dogs and cats, and scenery. However, the more crowded the canals became, the faster painters had to work. They made their designs simpler and chose "roses and castles" as their main motif. Roses were their favorite flowers which symbolized their country. Castles were their dreams. Perhaps they were looking at their castles as their goals of the canal trip. Perhaps their boats were their very own castles. This type of arts has been taken over from masters to local painters. I have been fascinated with this art and wished I could make similar ones.

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The Roses & Castles I found along the English Canals

On the Kennet & Avon Canal

I spent the New Year's Day of 2000 on the Kennet & Avon Canal. There I found many beautiful canal arts.

A finely decorated charter boat.

In the shop of the Kennet & Avon Canal Museum. Every item is painted roses & castles. A lorry driver found this art interesting and paints each of these goods.

A milk can painted roses and castles.

One of the most famous pubs along this canal is the Barge Inn. Their sign is painted nicely.

A back of the folded table of an old narrowboat.

This is one of the typical canvas for the Roses & Castles. I want to paint one of these someday!

Stoke Bruerne

I visited the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne in August, 2000. For my great joy, I met Mr Brian Collings, who is a master of the Roses & Castles. He kindly showed me around in the museum and explained some of the old pieces. Then, he gave me a little lecture of painting. I drew a rose quite clumsily, but he encouraged me to keep practising.

An old water can in the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum. A boat on a canal and dogs are painted as well as roses and castles. Motives are not limited to roses and castles in old times. Also the drawing is done in a great detail.

Wonderfully painted water cans on a boat at Stoke Bruerne. Shame they are little peeling outside, yet beautifully drawn roses.

Some people leave their doors open to show how beautifully their doors and goods are painted.

A beautifully painted narrowboat. It is still in use.