A collaborative community project between The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and Cheltenham Paint Festival will bring favourite children’s books to life as part of the Festival’s 75th anniversary celebrations.  

The collaboration will showcase the talent of two Cheltenham Paint Festival artists. Roo and The Art of SoK will paint two giant book covers at Cheltenham Paint Festival to be displayed in the Festival Village on Montpellier Gardens as part of the ten-day event (4-13 October).  

During Cheltenham Paint Festival’s 27 and 28 July weekend, families will have the opportunity to watch the artists work as they reimagine book covers for, Elmer written by David McKee and illustrated by Chris Mould – one of the most widely read children’s book series of all time–and the multi-award nominated superhero series, Marv by Alex Falayse. The giant books will be painted at two well-known venues within the Regency Spa town, The 2Pigs and the Holiday Inn Courtyard.  

At The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2024, even more giant books will be painted and displayed at the Festival site in October including a young graphic novel edition of H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. 

Each year the acclaimed Cheltenham Paint Festival brings together over 170 artists each year across 90 locations.