Inspiring artwork provides customers with warm welcome at Northern station in South Yorkshire

Artist Nikki Whiston produced the piece after she was commissioned by Barnsley Council’s South Area Team and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

The project was backed by funding from Northern, who manage the station.

Featuring the Wombwell unicorn emblem and references to the Roly Poly Hill and Wishing Tree at Wombwell Park, it is a celebration of the town’s unique history and its community.

Ms Whiston included the slogan ‘together we create’ alongside words such as safety, pride, home and hope, with a rainbow representing diversity.

The colourful creation was shaped by ideas from young people, community groups and local councillors. They came up with key themes which the artist then translated into a design.

She painted directly onto plyboard and a photograph of her work was upscaled and printed onto aluminium board that was mounted on the wall at Wombwell station, which is used by more than 200,000 customers a year.

The artwork was unveiled by Mayor of Barnsley James Michael Stowe, during a ceremony attended by members of the community, local councillors and representatives of SYMCA.

Designed to be weather and graffiti proof, the piece is part of a wider project to bring more character and personality to South Yorkshire's stations.

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, said: “This fantastic artwork brightens Wombwell station and celebrates the town’s diverse community.

“We’re delighted to see that locals were willing to help with the design and they can now take pride in enhancing their local station.”

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.