Artwork inspired by famous British Railway posters unveiled at Beverley station 

Eleven of our talented art and design students from East Riding College created posters to brighten Beverley station and promote Sheffield as a nearby tourist destination. They were unveiled during a ceremony on Wednesday 26 March.  

The students were asked to come up with a fresh take on the classic British Railways adverts from the 1930s and 1940s, to encourage people to visit destinations across Yorkshire. Their artwork has been unveiled as part of Railway 200 – the nationwide celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.   It comes after our students were taken on journeys by members of Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership so they could gain inspiration for their artwork and become more confident travelling by rail.  

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern in Yorkshire, said: “We’re seriously impressed with the quality of the artwork that has been produced as part of the Railway 200 celebrations.  

“These talented students and their families can feel a real sense of pride when they see their posters displayed at their local stations in the coming months.” 

Northern, which funded the project, also took 21 of the college students to visit the Houses of Parliament earlier this month so they could meet their local MPs and discuss the work they have been doing to improve their local stations. Students were also provided with free travel to London by Hull Trains.   

Clare Haigh, Head of Faculty at the college, said: ” We love to give our students real world experience leading to the best possible opportunities in their future careers and education. So we jumped at the chance for them to work towards this fantastic live brief for Northern Rail, supported by Yorkshire Coast Community Rail Partnership.   

“The brief gave them the chance to comprehensively research the railways and Sheffield as a tourist destination. Bringing in the historic designs of previous posters broadened the project out even more into the history of graphic design. Travelling on the rail network to London and visit Parliament was the icing on the cake – and a brand new exciting experience for some of the students.  

“Our Art students and their families also arrived in style for the unveiling of the posters on board a special train from Bridlington to Beverley. We think the posters they have produced are a wonderful advertisement not only for the railways but for the skills, insight and above all creativity these students are developing at East Riding College. I wish them all a huge well done for delivering really exceptional pieces of artwork for this brief.”