Govia Thameslink Railway has seen over 200 community artworks put in place throughout the Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern network.

The artworks being displayed are part of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Station Ambience Improvement Programme and are a bid to brighten up stations, making them more uplifting for customers travelling on the network.

The artworks include work by local professionals, students and hobby artists, with sculptures, mosaics, photography and paintings displayed in 40 stations throughout 8 counties from King’s Lynn to Downham Market in Norfolk, to Brighton and Newhaven Harbour on the south coast.

The artworks see a large variety of differing styles and are inspired by local landscapes, history and personalities. The station ambience improvement programme has also seen 90 landscaping projects and 50 redecoration schemes carried out.

Local passengers and residents have inspired the exhibits whose feedback suggested that art would be a great way to bring improvements in station ambience.

GTR has also worked alongside environmental charity Groundwork Trust, community rail partnerships, and other community and business groups to take part, brief and commission local artists.

Some of the stations have so much art exhibited that they could qualify as a gallery. An example of this is Stevenage, who has had over 20 paintings created by students at John Henry Newman School.

Radlett has also seen Girlguiding groups team up with local professional and amateur artists making 27 paintings.

South Croydon also has over 20 works of art with a powerful theme of mental well being inspiring members of art and mental health charity Studio Upstairs.

The biggest artwork taking part in the enormous exhibition is a 47m mural by local illustrator Carli Pfurtscheller and is featured over the footbridge at St Neots station.

Other murals include a 35m long place-name mural, by south London sign-writer Joe Rashbrook and is located on the road bridge outside of East Croydon station.

Another impressive 15m photographic historical collage has been created by Groundwork East and North Herts Museum and covers both sides of a 15m underpass. Kings Lynn environmental artist Steve Messam has also recently installed a series of mural panels based on the well known and loved Campbell’s soup tin.

Tom Moran, Managing Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “We called out to communities to help us brighten up their stations, and we’ve been amazed by the talent of the many artists who have come forward. We’ve commissioned over 200 works in the past year – that’s enough for one in every room of the Shard’s Shangri-La Hotel!

“All the art is produced by local people, inspired by where they live. So it doesn’t just make our stations more vibrant and inspiring for our customers – it gives us an even stronger bond with the communities we serve.”

Where Next?

RAILADVENT NEWS
The latest railway news
RailAdvent Plus
Railway Discounts, 4k Video, pictures and more!
Competition Time!
Have you entered yet?
RAILADVENT SHOP
Railway Prints, DVD’s / Blu-Ray’s, books and more
LOCOSTOP COMMUNITY
Come and share your railway pictures
UK STEAM INFO
Upcoming mainline steam tours/loco movements
Govia Thameslink Railway
Visit their website