Limited Edition Reading Walks Festival T-Shirt on sale

24th April 2025

Reading Walks Festival has commissioned local Reading artist Cath Baldwin to create a unique, limited-edition t-shirt for this year’s festival. 

The special Reading Walks Festival T shirt features many of the town’s iconic landmarks and the personalities and stories that feature among this year’s walks, including Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen and Banksy, the Town Hall, Forbury Lion and Abbey Ruins. The eye-catching design also references Reading’s role on the St James’ Way pilgrimage route, the Kennet & Avon Canal and the National Cycle Network, as well as its easy access to the surrounding countryside. 

Alex Brannen, Organiser of the Reading Walks Festival, said: “The Reading Walks Festival is all about telling the stories of Reading so when it came to thinking about a t-shirt for this year’s festival, it made sense to work with a well-known local artist grounded in Reading’s heritage. In the past, Cath’s work has included celebrating Reading’s biscuit heritage and so we couldn’t think of anyone better to represent all the stories of our 53 walks this year.”

Cath Baldwin said, "It was great to be given the challenge of somehow bringing a number of the best things about our town into one image. The biggest difficulty was keeping to the locations and themes that this year's Reading Walks Festival are going to cover as there are so many great things about Reading that could be included!"

Cath Baldwin has been working and exhibiting, both locally and nationally, for over 20 years, generally showing hand-made prints and occasional work in other media. Her inspiration comes from all over the place - a headline in a newspaper, an overheard conversation, a line in a book or something said by one of her children, often with a humorous by-line. Cath’s work can be found on Reading’s annual Whiteknights Studio Trail and at a number of art fairs around the country, as well as in the Reading Museum shop. More examples of her work can be seen on her Instagram account @cathbaldwin.makesstuff.

Reading Walks Festival takes place in and around Reading from 10-18 May 2025. Walks are led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers, showcasing the fascinating stories that make Reading the vibrant place it is, from guided tours of the Abbey Quarter and Reading’s literary heritage to social strolls along the Thames or countryside walks in the Chilterns.

The Reading Walks Festival limited edition t-shirt costs £20 and is available from the Reading Museum shop in person or online here. To book a place on a walk during the festival, visit readingwalksfestival.org.