Stoke-on-Trent-based charity Art UK has launched the search for the nation’s best-loved rail-related artwork to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
Art UK, which is based at the University of Staffordshire, and its museum partners have compiled a long list of 200 artworks featuring the UK railway, as part of the year-long Railway 200 celebrations.
People can now vote for up to three favourites which will see the long list narrowed down to 20 top artworks. The deadline for voting is Friday, April 11.
The top 20 will be announced on World Art Day, which is on Tuesday, April 15, when the vote will open for the outright winner. The winning artwork will be announced on Monday, June 9 – the birthday of rail pioneer George Stephenson.
The artworks have been chosen from 94 public collections across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and include works dating from the 1830s to the 21st century. Staffordshire scenes in the running include two paintings called Train At Cheddleton Station, one by RCH and one by Richard Rhead Simm, both from the Churnet Valley Railway collection.
Andrew Ellis, chief executive of Art UK, said: “We are thrilled to be giving the public the chance to vote for their favourite railway artwork. The long list of artworks shows the wide range of artists who have been inspired by train travel and gives an insight into the wonderful richness of the UK’s collections of publicly owned art.
“There are 132 named artists and 94 collections represented in the Railway 200 gallery and we hope that people from across the world will enjoy exploring these artworks and voting for their favourites.”
Railway 200 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
Alan Hyde from Railway 200 added: “The railway has shaped our cultural landscape and long inspired artists down the ages. It continues to be a source of artistic inspiration across the globe.
“We hope that, in rail’s bicentenary year, more people will appreciate the cultural contribution of the railway and travel by train to enjoy at first hand the amazing work of talented artists who have enriched our lives. We’re delighted to team up with Art UK to showcase the best of railway-inspired art and engage with a wide range of art and rail lovers.”
