Talented artists have posters displayed at stations after winning competition run by Northern

Dozens of amateur artists submitted entries earlier this year, coming up with fresh takes on the famous British Railways posters produced between the 1920s and 1950s.

They were asked to create bold and evocative artwork which celebrates at least one of the destinations you can travel to by train in the North of England or some of the stunning landscapes passengers are able to enjoy.

The competition is part of Railway 200 – the nationwide celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.  

Callum Hoy, Arlo Crossfield and James Wilkinson were chosen as the winners and their posters are now being displayed at various stations.

Callum Hoy, 10, was announced as the winner in the under 12 category, after he produced a fantastic drawing of a Northern service at Alderley Edge station in Cheshire.

“When I found out I had won I was so excited because I put so much effort into the drawing. I was inspired by my trainspotting and especially by Francis Bourgeois’s videos,” he said.  

“I love going to Alderley Edge station to watch the trains. It makes my day when the trains honk their horns, especially the Class 323s.”

Arlo, 14, said he is "delighted" to have won the young persons category of Northern's competition, after submitting a poster showcasing the countryside near Chapel-en-le-Frith station in Derbyshire. 

He said: "I chose the 'ride the peaks’ theme because I am a keen mountain biker. I love to see people enjoying the hills by wheels. I hope my artwork encourages people to come to the Peak District on trains."

James, a 28-year-old who lives in Manchester, said it was “fantastic” to be named the winner in the adult category.

He said: “My inspiration for the designs came from analysing old British Railways posters from the 1940s and 1950s. The way the posters were painted made them look bold and striking. 

“I wanted to incorporate this into my designs for modern audiences. I used Gouache paint to achieve this. This gives the finished result a solid and vibrant look, making them stand out.”

A panel appointed by Northern chose the winners, after judging the entries on their creativity, originality, visual impact and relevance to the theme.

Bradley Hayes, campaigns manager for Northern, said: “We were amazed by the quality of artwork submitted this year and would like to thank everyone who entered.

“Picking a winner wasn’t easy, but we agreed that Callum, Arlo and James produced fantastic posters that deserve to be displayed at our stations and enjoyed by customers.”

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.