The judges have announced the winners of the My Cheshire Children’s Art Competition.

The Competition, partnered by The Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and Chester based artist Nicky Thompson and sponsored by Marketing Cheshire, was open to youngsters aged from 4-11.

The awards are split into 2 age categories: 4-7 and 8-11…with a winner and two runners up in each category.

All winners and runners-up will receive a professional set of coloured pencils, and the 6 winners will see their designs adorn 12 station platforms on the Mid Cheshire Line Stations which connects Chester to Manchester via Northwich, Knutsford, Altrincham and Stockport.

There has also been a montage created of all 90 entrant’s paintings which will be displayed on the Mid Cheshire Line platforms and throughout Cheshire.

A free A2 copy of this montage is available for all entrants by providing your full name and address at paintings@midcheshirerail.org.uk

The winner of the 4-7 years group was Iris Morley’s Butterfly painting with Gustav Pastore’s Train on the Arches coming second and Olivia Tickell’s Gruffalo at Delamere Forest taking the third award.

 

 

 

The winner of the 8- 11 year’s group was Grace Nicholson’s Lion at Chester Zoo, with Fran Robinson’s Peckforton Castle coming second and Kaitlin Marshall’s Brio Leisure Centre in Northwich taking the third award. Sam Nicholson was also Highly Commended.

 

 

The judges were also impressed with the wonderful Andy Warhol inspired Cheshire Cheeses, the beautiful day out with mum in Nantwich and the magnificent Ted the Giraffe!

John Hulme, a member of the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and President of Cheshire Best Kept Stations said:
“With 90 entries, this has been one of our most difficult competitions to judge.

“There were entries from all over Cheshire and post Covid-19 I am looking forward to seeing our Mid Cheshire Line platforms adorned with these fantastic poster-paintings.

“In these unprecedented times, the Competition has been a winner for all in the community especially those schoolchildren at home during lock-down.” 

 Artist Nicky Thompson, who is partnering the competition with the CRP, said:
“For the past month these wonderful artworks have been arriving every morning in my inbox, providing colour and hope in these dark times.

“It’s been a real privilege to see Cheshire through the eyes of its youngest citizens.”

 Katrina Michel, from CH1 Bid, said:
“It was lovely to see the images that means something to these young people – a speeding train over a viaduct, a straining race horse, a magnificent lion, cathedrals and castles and of course a day out with mum as well as more abstract renditions that allow us to see Cheshire a bit differently through young eyes.”

“What a brilliant array of images and what talent for the future.”

 Marketing Cheshire’s Nicola Said commented:

“It has been a pleasure to sponsor and support this brilliant Art Competition that has helped our schoolchildren get through these difficult times.

“It has also been magical how they have portrayed our marvellous Cheshire landmarks which we are all looking forward to visiting once again in the future”

We are grateful for the images sent in by Karina in Knutsford, who on a social walk, was pleased to see the 200 tulips bulbs she had planted in winter were now beginning to bloom.

Yes they look blooming good!

The Friends of Handforth Station have issued an “Artists’ Brief”, which invites proposals for further artwork to complement the installation of the new lift. 

This brief also provides an insight into how the Friends have used Art on their station over the years – which has caught the attention of judges of Cheshire Best Kept Stations ….

Network Rail and Northern Trains continue to  plan for the installation of new lifts at Handforth Station in 2022; if government restrictions on building works permit then the lifts may even be in place by the end of 2021.

The new lifts create a wonderful opportunity to further enhance the station, building on the station’s existing “Platform for Art”. The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) plan to involve artists and the local community in the design process before the works start.

So on 16^th of April 2020 FoHS announced an invitation to all to get involved with this.

FoHS have issued an “Artists’ Brief”, which invites proposals for further artwork to complement the installation of the lifts.

Jenny Barnes, the Artistic Co-ordinator for FoHS, said
“We shall ensure that the proposed artwork reflects the nature of the local community and meets the needs of all involved with the station.

“We are inviting artists to identify possible artistic enhancements to the new building works and then design them. As well as the lifts themselves, pathways, fences, seats, signage and other associated works also provide scope for inclusion in the design process.”

Handforth Station is already well-known nationally for the variety and extent of its artwork, and has won several awards from both Cheshire Best Kept Stations and from the UK-wide Community Rail Network.

Jenny added, “We would love local artists to read our announced brief and submit proposals for working with us and with Network Rail and Northern Trains.

“Our Artists’ Brief can be found on our web-site http://www.handforthstation.org.uk/ .

We are open for submissions until the 15^th of May, and I can also be contacted for further information via handforthstation@gmail.co.uk ”.

As Cheshire Best Kept Stations said in their April InTouch Newsletter, a “picture paints a thousand words” ….

The Friends of Goostrey have kindly shared an extract from the May edition of the Goostrey Parish Magazine which was written by Chris Burgess …. 

At present, Government advice about social distancing and self isolation means that FOGS working parties cannot take place.

It’s fortunate therefore that in March there was a double celebration for FOGS members.

The Campaigns Award 2019 from the Best Kept Cheshire Competition was mounted on the bridge wall and the plaque in memory of our first chairman, Cyril Caulkin, was unveiled.

Both events had already been postponed in January and February because of stormy weather.

But now we have time to reflect on some of the successes of our volunteer group and also to plan for future activities.

After FOGS was founded in 2013, one of the first improvements to Goostrey Railway Station was the refurbishment of the passenger shelter on the Crewe platform.

This allowed Becky Cowell, deputy headteacher at Goostrey Community Primary School, to mount displays of pupils’ work.

The first exhibition was entitled Cold. One window of the building displayed words such as ICE, SNOW and FROST in huge letters. Another had descriptions of Ice Age animals which made the reader shiver.

For example :

• The deserted icy plain
• The giant glacier gleaming in the distance like the end of the earth
• A huge circle of mammoths protecting their vulnerable young
• Glittering snow like magic dust

Inside the waiting room, passengers were greeted by huge models of three penguins and a polar bear in front of a wall covered with elaborate decorations in ‘cold’ colours.

The whole display was particularly effective at night when illuminated by the station lights.

Subsequent displays have included Rainbows, Orang Utans, Going Places, the Owl and the Pussy Cat, Titanic, the Queen’s 90th birthday and Remembrance.

Each has transformed the shelter and they have been greatly appreciated by passengers and parents.

Comments have included :

What a lovely display to cheer us up on our rainy train trip home to Buckinghamshire

Great use of this space

Goostrey Primary school has some very talented pupils

I wish our school did something like this

I regularly walk the dog via the station now to see the artwork

In addition, the exhibitions helped the school to achieve Artsmark Gold and Rainbows was part of an Art Trail during Goosfest 2014.

Then, in 2016, FOGS received the Art Award from the Cheshire Best Kept Station competition and in 2017 the group was shortlisted in a national competition.

Members of FOGS have two plans for the future that relate to the school’s artwork.

First, they look forward to the displays resuming when our lives return to normal.

Second, the shelter again needs repairs to the roof and to the woodwork, so, as in 2013, pressure on the rail authorities is required.

New volunteers are always welcome even though we cannot physically be at the station at present.

FOGS members are involved in planning the future use of the station building, the installation of cycle racks in the car park and the improvement of passenger safety on the bridge.

For more information, please contact Dave Roberts (Vice Chair) on sharp-shooter@talktalk.net