The UK’s largest ever art exhibition dedicated to the Somerset and Dorset Railway is underway in Burnham-On-Sea next this week to mark the 50th year since the rail line closed.
West Country railway artist Alan Ward, pictured, is overseeing the exhibition, which started on Monday March 1st and runs until Sunday 6th March.
Burnham-On-Sea Community Centre in Berrow Road is hosting the show and the opening times are 10am-4pm each day.
Alan has scoured the country to gather original works from patrons and private collectors of his paintings over the many years.
There are also a nostalgic array of new original oil paintings and sketches amounting to over 100 works produced especially for this one-off event, many of which are on sale.
A comprehensive collection of limited edition Somerset & Dorset fine art prints, both framed and unframed, are also on display.
“Burnham is a fitting choice for the exhibition, since it was the terminus for the Evercreech Junction/Glastonbury branch of the line,” Alan told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“Notable paintings on show include the ‘Last Pines’ depicting the preparation of the 9F 2-10-0 EVENING STAR for the last ever run on S&D metals to Bournemouth prior to re-routing the service in 1962.”
“Another painting of note is the ‘Requiem for the Somerset and Dorset’ portraying Southern Pacific Battle of Britain locomotive ‘Biggin Hill and West Country light pacific ‘BUDE passing over Midford Viaduct on the final run south on the weekend of closure in March 1966.”
“It’s hoped that related societies will have a presence at the show, together with other attractions and displays of ‘0’ Gauge locomotives working the line at the time together with CD presentations of the railway and it infrastructure.”
Admission is free and souvenir brochures and catalogue of works are on sale.
