Newton Abbot train station will be home to an exhibition from three south Devon artists as part of the Newton Abbot Art Trail. Jane Baker, who’ll be exhibiting at Platform Art, got in touch.
Jane, Robin Clutterbuck and Paul Freestone are all very different artists but are linked in differing ways to their love of railways.
Jane told Arts+Culture: “Having the exhibition in November will be a challenge – although the beautiful space is partially enclosed we will have to wrap up warm and put on our thermal underwear. We also need to pack it away every night, so it will be a labour of love.
“We are very pleased to have been given permission by First Great Western’s estates manager David Harrison, and Mike Trotter, station manager of Newton Abbot railway station to hold an exhibition on the footbridge between the platforms at the station from Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 6 as part of Newton Abbot’s Art Trail.
“Their generosity means that a new and very different gallery space can be appreciated. The art trail marks the burgeoning interest in art in Newton Abbot. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful railway station in Newton Abbot, and by holding an art exhibition there we expect that people will notice the fine Victorian architecture of the station’s footbridge,” said Jane.
“Travellers and visitors will be delighted by the show, either by coming across it by chance or from a planned trip. We hope people who would never normally go to an art exhibition will be intrigued enough to take a look. They can extend their art experience by walking up to East Street to the sister exhibition by Incidental Imagery renowned for their interesting and quirky shows.
Jane Baker, who is part of Teign Artists, is also a member of Transition Newton Abbot and is happy to promote the railway system as part of the solution to climate change and peak oil. Her Transition Poster will be on display, as well as her ceramic figures, chocolate sculptures and light photographs that capture the energy of sunlight.
Paul Freestone specializes in transport art and whose railway paintings concentrate on the rail history of the Newton Abbot area, following the railway from coast to moor. He was delighted to have the opportunity to display his images of local rail history at Newton Abbot railway station. The perfect location. He works in watercolour and is a member of the Guild of Railway Artists and his work his exhibited nationally.
He would be pleased to talk about his work and learn more of the location.
As a frequent rail user, Robin Clutterbuck leapt at the chance to put on an art exhibition in a station. He said: “It’s ideal – full of people with time on their hands. Furthermore, for those who want to see the exhibition without catching a train, everybody knows where the station is – and it’s well signed for those who don’t.”
Robin’s work is focused on the South Devon environment. His pictures are ‘digital arrangements’ of wild flowers found locally. His unusual art is also on view at on his English Flowers website, where there are 10 years’ worth of images, collected every week. He hopes his work will encourage people to get out more to see the beautiful countryside all around us.
The Platform Art exhibition is on in Newton Abbot station from Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 6, weekdays 4.30pm to 7pm and weekends 11am to 6pm. It’s on the bridge between the platforms.
Check out the Platform Art website.
