I'm thrilled to say I've been called on to create poster art for a real steam railway! 😀
The Avon Valley Railway now has this on display at their main station.
(Any other heritage railways interested? Get in touch... 😉)
The artwork was wholly designed and created by me, with input from the Avon Valley Railway team. They were interested in a poster to display at their main Bitton station, advertising the scenic end of the line Avon Riverside. Keen-eyed viewers will spot some local wildlife.
@avrbitton is a heritage line near Bristol. It's special to me as I visited many times in childhood (and coupled with Thomas the Tank Engine videos likely laid the bedrock for my love of steam railways 😁) So I'm pleased and flattered to contribute to it in this way.
The artwork depicts the locomotive 'Edwin Hulse' crossing the Avon river bridge on departure from the riverside station. This 0-6-0 saddletank was, appropriately, built by Avonside Engine Company in Bristol and was the first locomotive purchased by the AVR Heritage Trust.
Despite being based in Bristol - the hub of the Great Western Railway - the line was actually a branch of the Midland Railway, resulting in an interesting mix of GWR and LMS stock in both heritage and heyday.
The decision was made to go with a faux-vintage style to emulate British Railways poster designs of the 50s. While strictly speaking it depicts the railway in the modern day, it's been kept historically vague enough that it could be mistaken for a scene from the past.
Again, I'm delighted to have been given this opportunity and I'm happy that the AVR (as all heritage sites should!) appreciate and support the work of real artists.
If you're able, please do give them a visit and consider supporting them. 🙂
Opened in 1869 by the Midland Railway as a through-route between Birmingham and the South Coast the Avon Valley Railway was later linked to
