Summer 2025 brought the first Love Rugby Festival, coinciding with both Rugby School’s Festival on the Close and Warwickshire Open Studios Summer Art Weeks.
Rugby Borough Council offered grants to help businesses and community groups to get involved in the Festival. An idea sparked by an Instagram post from Revel Bakery gave rise to a chalk pavement art plan, and a last minute funding bid – which was successful!
We bought custom hi-vis vests and a flag, and lots of chalk. Our artists gave their time, on some of the hottest days of the year!
Well done to Jennie Fifield and her friend Michaela, Jess Hartshorn, Aish Magesh, Lucy Denton, Huyen Phan and Jenny Ball for their chalking endeavours.
Art at The Alex, Aish Magesh and Jess Hartshorn also ran their own Love Rugby events with RBC funding.
We chalked at The Alex on James Street, Stella Interiors on Henry Street, The Annex Studios on Sheep Street, The Aviary Bar on High Street, Caldecott Park, the GEC park and St Andrews church.
Rugby Artists and Makers 