Street artists return to Cheltenham for popular festival

Cheltenham Paint Festival will return this year on 5 and 6 of September offering the public a chance to see spectacular new street art. Read on for full details and a downloadable map of the street art locations. 

Running from 9am to 5.30pm over the two days the annual event will see around 80 artists working at a number of locations across the town.  Headliners this year include Jody, Snik, Lucas Antics, Dotmasters, Trust Icon, Dank, Inkie and many more.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are a few of the highlights from last years Cheltenham Paint Festival...

**All of the street art sites featured in the video above can be found here - Experience incredible street art from the Cheltenham Paint Festival year round!

The 2020 festival offers the incredible opportunity for the public to see street art being created by a number of talented artists. People will be able to see the whole artistic process happen in front of them, from the first brushstroke to the finished piece.

The event will also use a number of previous and popular street art sites including North Place Car Park, the Honeybourne Line’s two tunnels and four bridges amongst others.

This year also sees a competition to win a fantastic art pack of original art, stickers, books and Posca Pens. Inspired by Geocaching, director of Cheltenham Paint Festival Andy Dice Davies has hidden ten camera film cases around the artworks with the names of artists he’d love to see at the festival in each. To win you have to find the ten cases, add your name to the sheet inside and, when you have all ten, send a message to the Cheltenham Paint Festival Facebook page stating the names. The first ten will win prizes with the top three getting extras and the first to message getting the grand prize! Clues will be put out on Saturday 5 September.

Andy Dice Davies said of the festival: “We’re delighted to be able to run this year’s festival which has been possible through funding from Cheltenham Borough Council, Cheltenham Borough Homes and The WCD Group. With an incredible line up of artists and a host of different locations across the town, we’re certain the festival is going to be a great one.”

“This year, in particular, is really important for the artists as many have found much of their work cancelled over the last few months. Cheltenham Paint Festival not only offers the public an amazing opportunity to watch these fantastic pieces of street art being created but also supports the artists involved. We can’t wait to welcome the artists and public back to this brilliant event.”

Alex Lucas of Lucas Antics said: “I'm excited to be painting at this year's Cheltenham Paint Festival! It's been a few years in the making so really looking forward to splashing some paint on the walls alongside all the other super talented artists!  I hope the new murals will create lots of excitement and inspiration, especially during these challenging times.”

Due to current regulations the festival map will be available online only and social distancing rules will be followed.

The street art remains available to visitors for a year with many people taking the opportunity to tour the sites whilst in Cheltenham.

For more information on Cheltenham Paint Festival visit ww.cheltenhampaintfestival.co.uk/.  Click here for the downloadable map which shows the locations of the new street art for 2020.

Alternatively, if you’d like to be even more involved, the festival is currently seeking volunteers, for information on how you can volunteer please visit www.cheltenhampaintfestival.co.uk/get-involved