On the morning of Friday 30th May invited guests gathered at Northwich Station to see the unveiling of 9 art panels by Northwich based artist Jim Stanley. Jim is getting a name for himself in the town and beyond for his signature monochrome style works having also created pieces for Witton Albion Football Club and Radio Northwich and he was also commissioned to produce artwork for a whiskey company.
The idea for the art installation at Northwich Station was first conceived of last year in a Friends of Northwich Station meeting-the station friends are a group of volunteers who care for the station through regular litter picks, updating the notice board and looking after station flower planters.
Each of the 9 illustrated panels which spells out NORTHWICH has one letter per panel, and depicts a different place along the Mid Cheshire Line starting at Chester and finishing at Manchester and includes the towns and countryside between these major cities- Places include Northwich, Knutsford, Altrincham and Stockport plus Delamere Forest and the scenic Cheshire countryside.
Panel illustrations examples
Chester-includes an elephant form the city zoo and Roman soldier
Delamere-the forest and racing car referencing nearby Oulton Park
Northwich the letter T includes famous Northwich steamer “The Danny”, Anderton Boat lift and the soda ash train which ran on the Mid Cheshire line for many years until the Lostock Gralam soda ash plant closure.
Altrincham includes a graceful ice skater and market seller holding a bunch of flowers.
Stockport-includes the famous viaduct
Manchester Picadilly-includes Hilton Hotel and Central Library
After an introduction by Community Rail Officer Sarah Muir, MP for Mid Cheshire Andrew Cooper said a few words and cut the red ribbon. Artist Jim Stanley rounded off the morning with a rendition of the song he had written specially for the occasion about the Mid Cheshire Railway line with a guitar accompaniment.
The invited guests, who included Mid Cheshire CRP Directors, Friends of Northwich Station and volunteers from other station adoption groups and others involved in the project were handed song sheets so they could sing along. After the song they were able to enjoy refreshments provided by Really Awesome Coffee of Winsford.
With grateful thanks
Thanks go to train operating companies Cross Country and Northern and Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership for funding the project. Thanks also to Jamie Belsford of Johnsons Printing for graphic design, advice and printing. To Rob Bentley of Mid Cheshire Camera Club and Chris Poole for photography, Radio Northwich for lending their studio space to photograph art work, Friends of Northwich Station for their work caring for Northwich Station and Andrew Cooper MP for officially unveiling artwork. Thanks to Really Awesome Coffee-Winsford for providing refreshments.
Quotes
Artist Jim Stanley
I`ve always been proud of my town and its great to have an opportunity to shout about Northwich in visual artwork.
I developed my style since retiring from teaching, I started drawing places in my home town, it was really the black and white buildings of Northwich which inspired me.. When I started to put my sketches on Facebook a whiskey company got in touch because they like the old-fashioned style of the drawings. From there Radio Northwich asked me to do a mural in the same style and that led to a commission for a mural at the Witton Albion FC club house and then a further commission by the rail partnership for artwork at Northwich Station My style discovered me-it`s all there in black and white!
Andrew Cooper MP for Mid Cheshire
“Stations are your first impression when you arrive in a town. Northwich is a beautiful station with its glorious canopy, and artwork like Jims really helps create that great first impression.”
“This is what community rail is all about-residents taking ownership of their stations and helping create a real sense of place. I think it is brilliant it is happening right here in our town.”
Sarah Muir Community Rail Officer Mid Cheshire CRP
“It’s wonderful to see the completion of a project which was first conceived of in the autumn of last year. We are very lucky to have a work by such a talented local artist as Jim Stanley at Northwich station, where it will be enjoyed by the local community and visitors to the town for many years to come. The art panels show just how much the Mid Cheshire line has to offer from vibrant towns and cities to scenic countryside and are the perfect way to celebrate Railway 200-the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.”
Quotes from members of Friends of Northwich Station
Simon Barber-Lead volunteer Friends of Northwich Station
I love the way Jims artwork draws you in. You can spend quite a few minutes looking at it trying to work out the references on each panel. It makes waiting at the station more of a
Paul Harrison-Northwich Station volunteer
Jims artwork takes you on a weaving, winding journey across Cheshire, passing historic places on the way through the landscapes.
Northwich Town Cllr and Northwich station volunteer Catriona Stewart
Jim`s art announces to people travelling from, to and through Northwich that this is a place that is cared about and has some civic pride.
Peter Holland Northwich Station Volunteer and Northwich Rotary Club President
The artwork mural is a great graphical description of what there is at each railway station between Chester and Manchester within the wording of Northwich(station) where it is a creative masterpiece.
Contacts and further links
Interested in joining Friends of Northwich Station contact Community Rail Officer Sarah Muir on contact@midcheshirerail.org.uk
See more on Mid Cheshire CRP projects at www.midcheshirerail.org.uk
Future project
Find out more about Railway200 -200 years of the modern railway at Railway200.co.uk
Please mention upcoming Mid Cheshire Line Relay walks in September to celebrate Railway 200-a series of station to station walks from Manchester to Chester spanning the length of the Mid Cheshire Line. We would encourage communities along the Mid Cheshire Line to get involved Find out more at www.midcheshirerail.org.uk
Mid Cheshire Music Trains-a new season of live music on trains with a stop off for a pub meal while the band play on. Find out more at www.midchehsirerail.org.uk
