Est. 2022 · Swindon, UK · Run by Artsite
Swindon PaintFest
Swindon's street art festival — a weekend of live mural painting, workshops and exhibitions that's putting the town back on the street art map, one wall at a time.
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Swindon's street art festival — a weekend of live mural painting, workshops and exhibitions that's putting the town back on the street art map, one wall at a time.
Swindon Paint Fest is Swindon's first street art festival, founded in 2022 and organised by Artsite. It exists to grow murals and public art across the town centre, give artists a platform to show their work, and bring some colour and energy back to Swindon as part of its wider regeneration.
Back in the 1980s, Swindon was an unlikely murals capital of the UK, home to more than 40 murals. Today only two of those originals remain — Ken White's 1976 Golden Lion Bridge and Sarah Faulkner's 1985 Arkells Brewery mural. Bringing that spirit back is one of the festival's core goals.
Since 2022 the festival has grown fast: 2023 brought international recognition and more than 50 artists, some travelling from as far as the United States and Spain, for a weekend of live painting, workshops and exhibitions. In 2024, an Arts Council grant helped the festival grow again — and the murals painted each year keep transforming the town long after the paint dries.
A real chronology — from a first festival in 2022 to an Arts Council-backed weekend in 2024 and a 2025 open call now underway.
Artsite launches Swindon Paint Fest — Swindon's first street art festival — with a mission to grow murals and public art as part of the regeneration of the town centre.
The second festival brings over 50 artists to Swindon, some travelling from as far as the United States and Spain, alongside workshops, exhibitions and live painting over a sunny festival weekend.
Going into its third year, the festival secures an Arts Council grant and returns on 31 August & 1 September 2024, centred on Theatre Square, Artsite and Rudi's Bar with live painting, demos and a family fun day.
Supported by Artsite & The Post Modern, Swindon Paint Fest returns as a one-day celebration of creativity, colour and community on Saturday 30 August 2025, centred in and around Artsite, Theatre Square and Regent Circus — with a focus on grassroots and emerging local artists.
Mr Cenz
Emic
Leonidas Giannakopoulos
Sophi Odling
Jack Lack
Philth
Andrew Burns Colwill
Karc
Founded in 1999, Artsite set out to develop affordable studio space and act as a platform to showcase and support the visual and creative arts in Swindon. Over the years it has come to play a vital role in the town's arts infrastructure — creating a supportive environment for artists to develop their practice, and an inclusive space for making, showing and learning that promotes the health and wellbeing of the people of Swindon.
For the past several years, Artsite has taken on more public art projects, working closely with Swindon Borough Council and the local community to develop murals and public art as part of the regeneration of the town centre.
Whether you paint, follow the trail, or just want the next date in your diary — here's where to go.
2025 applications are open for local, grassroots and emerging artists of all styles and backgrounds. Spaces are around Artsite, Theatre Square and Regent Circus.
Read the brief →Murals from every festival are still up around town. Follow the trail on foot, by bike, or take the interactive map with you.
See the trail →Times, locations and what's on for Swindon Paint Fest 2025 — live painting, workshops, demos and music across the weekend.
View programme →Follow along at @swindonpaintfest on Instagram and Facebook, and tag #swindonpaintfest in your posts — we'll do our best to share them.
