Buckby cans - Kay's Canal Crafty Arts %

Personalised Buckby style cans

Pea Green’s 2 gallon Buckby can decorated with roses, daisies and castles.

Buckby cans are named after the canalside village of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire. In the 19th Century passing working boats would buy the painted water cans from the wharf. For the families onboard working narrowboats the cans contained clean drinking water. However, today’s leisure narrowboats usually have large water tanks and don’t need Buckby cans for their water supply. As a result, Buckby style cans are now a reminder of the social history of English working canals. I hand-paint cans in a variety of sizes.

Buckby can sizes

Two 2 pint Buckby cans painted with traditional canal art roses

Water cans come in a range of different sizes from 1/2 pint to 3 gallons. Smaller 2 pint cans (just over a litre), stand 26 cm high with the handle up. Therefore, they are the perfect size for a boat or house. Consequently, I have some painted which I sell from my boat Pea Green. or if you need one fast I can post!

I hand-paint with roses and daisies. Finally, you can have these cans personalised (included in the price). Remember that space is limited! The price for a 2 pint can is £50 plus £3.50 postage.

Larger cans

1 gallon Buckby can for narrowboat Thyme.

Larger Buckby style cans make a real statemement! As a result, I have posted these large pieces to homes around the globe. A 1 gallon can costs £120 to paint plus the cost of the can – in the region of £55. I include a traditional castle scene and personalisation. Of course, you don’t need to have a boat to own one, my 1 gallon cans have found their homes in gardens and as house ornaments.

I also paint 2 and 3 gallon cans. Please check with me regarding current availability.

Painting larger cans takes time and patience. As a result the multiple layers of paint, decoration and finishing takes about 10 days on 1 to 3 gallon cans.

Repaints and restoration

I am happy to either repaint or restore your own Buckby can. For example, if the can is looking tired, or is poorly painted. In this case cans can be stripped down and completely repainted. Alternatively, if not too badly damaged I maybe able to work on restoring a small area. Contact me for more details.

Before and after photos of two up-cycled cans. My customers wanted them to match the new paint work of their boat. They also wanted a simple design of flowers.

To order

To order, simply contact me via email, Facebook, or Instagram, I usually respond within a couple of hours. I prefer payment, by BACS transfer. Additionally, for larger cans I may require a deposit before beginning work.

Please note: for larger Buckby can commissions I will require a deposit of £50. Full payment is due within 14 days of painting being completed. Buckby cans can be collected by prior arrangement or posted at extra cost.

Recent Buckby cans

Below are photographs of recent Buckby cans I have painted. Finally, please do check my Instagram feed (also on my home page) for my latest work.