Martin Clunes Art Project

BUCKHAM FAIR

A very special country fair

Buckham Fair was created by Martin Clunes and his wife, Philippa Braithwaite, in 2008, near their home in Dorset.

The idea was simple: an old-fashioned country fair where people could enjoy a day with dogs, horses, local food, shows and activities, while raising money for local charities.

Over the years, the Fair became a much-loved event and raised more than £600,000 for good causes. After its last edition in 2018, Buckham Fair took a long break.

Then, in 2026, it finally came back.

MY BUCKHAM FAIR 2026

For many years, going to Buckham Fair was a little dream of mine.

I had seen photographs from past editions and loved the idea of this relaxed country fair where Martin, his family, volunteers and visitors all shared the same day together. But after 2018, when the Fair stopped, I thought I had missed my chance.

So when I heard at the end of 2025 that Buckham Fair might return, I knew I wanted to be there.

But not only as a visitor.

I wanted to experience it from the inside, help with the event and be part of the group. So I applied to become a volunteer and later decided to support the Fair as a personal sponsor too.

And that was the beginning of the adventure.

In the months before the Fair, I met other volunteers online, asked a lot of questions (probably too many!), improved my English and started planning my first trip alone to the UK.

Some of those online contacts became real friends when we finally met in Dorset.

Before, during... and after

Before the Fair, we helped prepare the dog area, setting up the fields and making shaded rest and water stations for the many dogs expected on what turned out to be a very hot day.

On Show Day our work was done, so we were free to enjoy the Fair.

I photographed and filmed throughout the day because I wanted to keep a record of this special experience — although, to be honest, I spent most of my time photographing horses! I love them, and I am also working on a personal project dedicated to them, so I really couldn't resist.

There were dog shows, horses show, beautiful Clydesdales, people everywhere and a wonderful atmosphere. But one of the best parts was simply being there with volunteers who had travelled from different places, working together, talking, laughing and finally meeting in real life.

The following day, we were back at work again, taking down the dog area, loading equipment and helping return the fields to normal.

For me, this was part of the experience too. I didn't just visit Buckham Fair. For three days, I had the chance to be a small part of it.

A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR THE ART PROJECT

There was also something I had been planning for months.

After years of creating the Martin Clunes Art Project from Italy, I wanted to bring a small part of it with me to Dorset. So I created a prototype book containing a selection of my artworks, especially to give to Martin.

For me, it was important that the person who had unknowingly inspired this project could finally see it in his hands — and perhaps put a face to the person behind all those images.

And finally, I had the chance to give it to him.

Watching Martin discover the book page by page was probably the best reaction I could have hoped for. He stopped at one of the artworks and remembered another picture I had created in the past, asking if I was the person who had made “the James Bond one”.

Then he reached Strike Back.

He looked at the page, laughed and said:

“Strike Back! Two days' work!”

After spending so much time creating an artwork for those two days of work, I think that made the whole thing even funnier.

It was a simple, spontaneous moment and a wonderful way for this digital project to finally meet the person who inspired it.

Thank you, Buckham Fair

I went to Dorset hoping to live a day I had dreamed about for years.

I came home with much more: new friends, wonderful memories, hundreds of photographs (many of them horses, obviously!) and the feeling of having been part of something very special.

A huge thank you to the Buckham Fair team, the volunteers and everyone who helped make those three days unforgettable.

Simo