the gooseneck inn, download festival, uk

When Download Festival unveiled The Gooseneck Inn, their brand-new bar, they needed signs that would capture the raw energy of the festival. Inspired by the rugged charm of the Harley-Davidson motor club aesthetic, I was commissioned to design and create two massive, hand-painted signs that would bring the vision to life.

Each sign measured an impressive 5 meters in length—a true centerpiece for the bar’s entrance. As a traditional signwriter and sign painter, I poured hours of meticulous craftsmanship into these pieces. Every panel was designed, painted, and aged by hand to achieve a strikingly authentic rusted and weathered effect.

Using a combination of custom signwriting techniques, layered paintwork, and creative distressing methods, I transformed the panels into rich, aged artworks that looked like they had stood the test of time. Achieving this realistic texture and depth was no small feat—it required patience, precision, and an eye for detail.

This project was a highlight of my career, blending artistry and craft on a monumental scale. As a Northern Ireland-based traditional signwriter, it’s always exciting to take my work to the global stage, contributing handmade signs to iconic events like Download Festival.