Artwork, History Boards, Information Panels & Murals
Kent Community Rail Partnership has worked with a wide range of partners in our communities to add artwork, history boards, information panels and murals to brighten our stations and highlight the local area.
Swale Rail has seen many projects to introduce artwork that celebrates communities along the line today and the mix of natural beauty and industrial heritage that can be found there.
Sheerness-on-Sea
Welcome to Sheppey was commissioned by Kent CRP and unveiled on 10th September 2010. It comprises some 2,600 local Sheppey images from photographs taken by students from The Isle of Sheppey Academy, Richmond First School and St Edwards Roman Catholic Primary School.
2016 saw the installation of The Isle of Sheppey. Created by the Arts and Media Youth Team at Sheppey Matters, twelve artists, aged 14 to 25 who were not in work or education received guidance at Margate’s Turner Contemporary gallery to design the artwork, incorporating references to local history, myth and legend. Volunteer woodworker Melvyn supplied the vintage style letters.
The project was supported by Sheppey Matters, The Rotary Club of Minster-on-Sea, Swale Borough Council, Kent County Council, Work This Way, McNealy Brown and Kent CRP.
In 2022 young learners at St Edward’s school deigned a mural for Sheerness station, around themes of sustainable lifestyles and travel choices. Local artist Julie Bradshaw worked with them to create the banner, reflecting their wish to see a cleaner more sustainable future.
Completion of refurbishment work at the station meant they had to wait until September 2023 to see their artwork go on display.
“Young people are worried about changes to our climate and recognise that walking, wheeling and cycling for short journeys and choosing the bus and train for longer trips are much more sustainable choices than car travel. Kent Community Rail Partnership are grateful for the support of Sheerness Town Council to deliver this latest artwork and would like to thank Southeastern railway for allowing it to be displayed at the station. It looks great!” – Gary Outram, Kent CRP Project Officer.
“The children from the school council visited today and we took some great photos. It looks really good in the position in the station, so we were very impressed.” – Sara Wakefield, The Kent Catholic Schools Partnership.
Sheppey College maintain a display board at the station which provides information on the history of the Island and promotes sustainable and healthy travel, supporting the Community Rail Development Strategy.
Queenborough
In 2018, artist Julie Bradshaw worked with local school children to celebrate the Royal Carter granted by King Edward III in 1366. He had the town renamed after his Queen, Philippa of Hainault, and conferred upon it the rights of a free borough, with a governing body of a mayor and two bailiffs.
In 2019 construction students from Sheppey created benches on the platform incorporating planters into the sturdy design. In 2021 the students came up with inspiring messages to display on the planters, promoting good mental health and wellbeing.
Swale
Over 2021 and 2022 street artist Graham Upton worked on designs from Kent CRP members and students of Sheppey College that highlight places to visit on the lines and the diversity of the communities served by our Swale Rail line, showing that rail travel is for everyone.
The project was funded by Swale Borough Councillors, Cameron Beart and Steve Davey, Kent County Councillor John Wright, Kent CRP and Community Rail Network.
Swale is one of Kent’s least used stations and the murals help to show that it is still much loved. With many more blank concrete panels in place there is huge scope to expand the project in the future.
Kemsley
Thanks to the hard work of the construction students from Sheppey College in 2022, the station boasts a sculpture of the iconic Kingsferry bridge.
Sittingbourne
In 2021 the students came up with inspiring posters supporting rail safety, inclusion and positive mental health. They also created messages to display on the stairways of the footbridge, promoting good mental health and wellbeing.
Kent CRP engaged with the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne to create a local heritage information board for the waiting room at Sittingbourne station.
Unveiled in 2023, this joint venture is aimed at inspiring visitors and local people to take a look around the town and to learn more about its history.
