SWINDON PAINT

FEST

Swindon's street art festival — a weekend of live mural painting, workshops and exhibitions that's putting the town back on the global street art map, one wall at a time.

2022

FESTIVAL FOUNDED

50+

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS IN 2023

10

COUNTRIED REPRESENTED

140+

MURALS CREATED

PUTTING SWINDON BACK ON THE STREET ART MAP

Swindon Paint Fest is Swindon's first street art festival, founded in 2022 and organised by Artsite. Created as part of Swindon's regeneration, the festival brings murals, public art and creative events to the town, inspiring the community while providing a platform for artists to showcase their work.

In the 1980s, Swindon was once considered an unlikely mural capital of the UK, with more than 40 murals across the town. Today, only a few historic murals remain, and one of Paint Fest’s key ambitions is to put Swindon back on the street art map.

Since launching, Swindon Paint Fest has evolved and delivered four successful festivals, with the latest taking place in 2025. In 2024, more than 50 artists from the UK and overseas—including the United States, Australia, Greece, France and Spain—participated, creating murals alongside workshops, exhibitions and live painting events. In 2025, the festival took a grassroots approach, celebrating and supporting local artists while strengthening connections within Swindon’s creative community. Through each edition, the festival has continued to grow, gaining international recognition and attracting thousands of visitors.

Looking ahead to Swindon Paint Fest 2027, we remain committed to bringing world-class street art, creative experiences and community engagement to the town. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @swindonpaintfest for the latest updates, and tag #swindonpaintfest in your posts for a chance to be featured.

ABOUT ARTSITE

Founded in 1999, Artsite was established to provide affordable studio space and support the visual arts in Swindon. Over the years, it has become a vital part of the town's creative infrastructure.

Artsite aims to:

Create a supportive environment where artists can develop their practice.
Provide an affordable and inclusive space for making, exhibiting and learning through art.
Use creativity to promote the health and wellbeing of people in Swindon.

In recent years, Artsite has expanded its public art programme, working closely with Swindon Borough Council and local communities to deliver murals, public art and creative events that contribute to the regeneration of the town centre.

A real chronology — from a first festival in 2022 to an Arts Council-backed weekend

in 2024 and a homegrown event in 2025.

FOUR YEARS, ONE WALL AT A TIME

THE STORY SO FAR

2022

2023

2024

2025

The first festival

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.

+Founding year+ +Artsite-led+

The return

The second festival brings over 50 artists to Swindon, some travelling from as far as the United States and Spain, painting across the town alongside workshops, exhibitions and live painting over a sunny festival weekend.

+50+ artists+ +International line-up+ +Workshops+ +Exhibitions+

Arts Council backing

Going into its third year, Swindon Paint Fest secured an Arts Council grant and delivered an exciting programme of live painting, exhibitions, workshops, collaborations and a family fun day. The festival reached new heights as it grew in scale and quality, bringing world class large-scale murals and exceptional artwork inspiring creative experiences to Swindon.

+Arts Council+ +Collaboration+ +Family fun day+

Homegrown

Supported by Artsite, Swindon Paint Fest returned as a one-day celebration of creativity, colour and community on 30th August 2025, centred in and around Artsite, Theatre Square and Regent Circus, with a focus on grassroots and emerging local artists.

+Grassroots+ +Support local+