Joanne Partridge

My inspiration comes from the many days spent at heritage railways with my son. His first trip was at the age of 1, I took him on his first steam train at The Great Central Railway. Now he’s 21 and although I don’t possess his extensive knowledge, his enthusiasm and our special days out will continue to inspire me to draw and paint.

Arriving at a beautiful heritage railway is like stepping back in time, leaving the business of life behind. The nostalgic experience is a delight on all the senses, the smell of the coal-scented smoke, the sound and grand scale of the beautifully restored locomotives. A journey in the countryside or simply sitting for hours on the platform surrounded by flowers, trains and an ice cream in hand whilst chatting away. Come rain or shine they’ll always be the most memorable of days.

Over many years I have experimented with many styles and materials from acrylic and oil paint to pencil and charcoal. However, my future work will be in colour pencil, it will possess an element of realism with a fun illustrative feel as I aim to capture the atmosphere of those wonderful days out, which I know many of us enjoy so much.