Shrub Hill Station is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year with three new pieces of artwork.
Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership (CRP) worked in partnership with local artist Claire Horacek, three schools, Platform Rail Education Scheme and West Midlands Railway to create public art reflecting the station’s importance to the City of Worcester.
Celebrating three main themes – Royal Worcester Porcelain, the Vulcan Ironworks, and the Shrub Hill Quarter redevelopment – pupils from Martley Primary School, St. Barnabas Primary School and St. George’s Primary School visited the station to make sketches and then each school designed their own piece of artwork.
The designs feature elements of the historic grand waiting rooms at the station, which were built between 1857 and 1868 and have been restored in recent years thanks to funding and expertise from the Railway Heritage Trust.
The pupils collaborated in small groups on the central sections, painting the tiles together to produce a lively collaborative masterpiece.
Tom Painter, chair of Worcestershire CRP, said: “It has been truly inspiring to witness the passion these children poured into honouring Shrub Hill Station’s legacy. The finished designs have beautifully captured Worcester’s world-class manufacturing history and imaginatively featured bright possibilities for the future.”
Artist Claire Horacek said: “I love the structures of the railway station and the excitement of seeing the trains coming in and out. It was great to share this with the children, and wonderful to see them making excellent observational drawings in the station, painting the tiles, and develop their individual artworks.
“Whenever I visit the station or pass through on a train, I’ll be reminded of working with all the brilliant children.”
Tom Blow, learning development officer with Platform Rail, said: “The children from all schools involved were so engaged with their art creation, both through their individual tiles as well as their collaborative efforts as an expression of their engagement and creativity. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of this project!”
A spokesperson from West Midlands Railway said: “We are proud to display the schoolchildren’s beautiful artwork in Shrub Hill to mark the station’s birthday. While the project was an opportunity to celebrate the station’s past, it’s also provided a platform for their designs to be a part of Worcester Shrub Hill’s future.”
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Worcestershire CRP via their website.