An emotional rollercoaster! Photographer's passionate portraits of colourful British fairground art pay tribute to the iconic 'Waltzer'

  • Nigel Edginton-Vigus has travelled the length and breadth of the UK capturing the art of British fairgrounds
  • Says in 20 years that he has spent less on his hobby than on a two week holiday in the Caribbean
  • He has built an archive of almost 2,000 different images and says he 'loves the flamboyance of fairground art'
  • Now the 51-year-old, from Ashtead in Surrey, wants to publish a book of his colourful photographs

By Catherine Eade for MailOnline

Published: 08:16 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 08:20 EST, 7 July 2015

A photographer has spent the last 20 years of his life travelling up and down the country capturing the art of the British fairground. 

Nigel Edginton-Vigus from Ashtead in Surrey started on his project to pay tribute to the overlooked art that adorns the oldest, most iconic and the most popular fairground ride, the Waltzer.

Edginton-Vigus wanted to collect the images used to attract 'punters' to a ride before they were condemned them to the scrap heap.

Trippy Sixties style psychedelia adorns the back of this colourful Waltzer carriage shot by Nigel Edginton-Vigus

Trippy Sixties style psychedelia adorns the back of this colourful Waltzer carriage shot by Nigel Edginton-Vigus

Shiny happy people: This super-tanned, spray painted couple are typical of some of the fairground art captured by the photographer

Shiny happy people: This super-tanned, spray painted couple are typical of some of the fairground art captured by the photographer

The photographer has visit hundreds of traveling funfairs across Britain, building an impressive archive of almost 2,000 images in 20 years

The photographer has visit hundreds of traveling funfairs across Britain, building an impressive archive of almost 2,000 images in 20 years

'I love the colour, scale and sheer flamboyance of fairground art,' said the 51-year-old. 'Every piece of work is unique, hand made and beautifully crafted, but it's so ephemeral. Real 'here today, gone tomorrow' art. When these masterpieces have outlived their usefulness, they're just trashed: sanded down and painted over, chucked into a corner of a showman's yard, or stuck on a bonfire.'

His journey has seen him visit hundreds of traveling funfairs across Britain, building an impressive archive of almost 2,000 images.

'Even now I can remember the sound of the music and generators, and the screams of the punters,' he says of his first visit to a funfair aged five. 'I can remember the smell of red diesel, candy floss and fried onions, too. It's still some sort of magical, intoxicating perfume to me to this day.

'When I turned the corner onto the fair green, and my little eyes saw this riot or colour, light and movement, boom! I think the image was burned onto my subconscious on the spot. It was only later when I started my career in design that I really starting noticing this incredible artwork, and I started shooting it almost by instinct.' 

'When my eyes saw this riot of colour, light and movement, boom! I think the image was burned onto my subconscious,' he says

'When my eyes saw this riot of colour, light and movement, boom! I think the image was burned onto my subconscious,' he says

A cool dude in sunglasses surrounded by a riot of colour was painted purely to encourage riders onto the Waltzer

A cool dude in sunglasses surrounded by a riot of colour was painted purely to encourage riders onto the Waltzer

'When these masterpieces have outlived their usefulness, they’re just trashed: sanded down and painted over,' he says sadly

'When these masterpieces have outlived their usefulness, they're just trashed: sanded down and painted over,' he says sadly

Space-age graphics: The work is constantly changing, evolving, being updated and replaced as it is worn by the British weather

Space-age graphics: The work is constantly changing, evolving, being updated and replaced as it is worn by the British weather

The Hulk decorates this carriage, with TV characters being a popular influence for the fairground artists' work

The Hulk decorates this carriage, with TV characters being a popular influence for the fairground artists' work

Mr Edginton-Vigus is now trying to showcase his dedicated work by compiling the art from the British fairground into a new book, titled The Waltzer.  

'As long as I can hold a camera, I'll keep shooting fairground art. I think my book will reveal this undiscovered art and help people see and appreciate it in a whole new light,' he says.

The photographer is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to complete the book, which will be the first of its kind dedicated to British fairground art.

Intricate lettering sprawls over the back of this Waltzer carriage, giving it a retro feel

Intricate lettering sprawls over the back of this Waltzer carriage, giving it a retro feel

'I’ve seen so much of the UK, met some great people and had some wonderful experiences along the way,' he says of his project

'I've seen so much of the UK, met some great people and had some wonderful experiences along the way,' he says of his project

Fairground art is rarely given a second thought, yet most people encounter it more often than work by well-known artists

Fairground art is rarely given a second thought, yet most people encounter it more often than work by well-known artists

'This is it!' The UK's favourite all time fairground ride? The Waltzer is certainly one of the most iconic of fairground attractions

'This is it!' The UK's favourite all time fairground ride? The Waltzer is certainly one of the most iconic of fairground attractions

Music is an integral part of the Waltzer experience and this clever use of headphones combined with the smiley icon is a cheery image

Music is an integral part of the Waltzer experience and this clever use of headphones combined with the smiley icon is a cheery image

There's an almost 30's style feel to the artwork decorating this ride with its swirly shapes, combined with a modern colour palette

There's an almost 30's style feel to the artwork decorating this ride with its swirly shapes, combined with a modern colour palette

An unidentified pop star is the subject for this panel of spray painted art, although it's not clear who it actually is

An unidentified pop star is the subject for this panel of spray painted art, although it's not clear who it actually is

Mr Edginton-Vigus is now trying to showcase his dedicated work by compiling the art from the British fairground into a new book

Mr Edginton-Vigus is now trying to showcase his dedicated work by compiling the art from the British fairground into a new book

'It was only later when I started my career in design that I really starting noticing this incredible artwork,' says the photographer

'It was only later when I started my career in design that I really starting noticing this incredible artwork,' says the photographer

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