Artist inspired by Turner gets a platform to show his works

Chris Ware, 51, who runs a full- time studio at Levisham station, is showcasing an end-of-year summary of his work at the new Learning Centre on platform Two of Pickering station.

The exhibition opens on Saturday September 25 – after this coming weekend's diesel gala on Saturday and Sunday – and runs until Sunday, October 3.

The Learning Centre, which has been equipped as a new art venue for the railway, hosted its first art exhibition at Easter when Mr Ware helped light and hang the work, so the space can be used by other artists.

The new exhibition features works he painted for the on-going bridge appeal but also the results of his year long Turner Project, sparked by his discovery a year ago of a Turner sketch of Helmsley Castle.

With the help of Tate Britain, he researched the paints used by Turner and his paint-makers have come up with the recipe for them. Using that knowledge he has painted Helmsley Castle in Turner's colours.

The aim is to create the painting Turner never got around to doing. Having taken some sketches of the castle, the great artist did not proceed any further.

It has taken Mr Ware a year to complete the painting, which will be unveiled at the exhibition.

He has also completed a series of railway and landscape paintings in Turner colours but in his own style.

These include a picture of the modern Tornado locomotive, using the technique Turner used in 1844 to finish Rain Steam and Speed.

The exhibition is free and open from 10am to 5pm.