Cotswold Chatterblog

Date: April 7, 2008

Saturday 12th April & Sunday 13th April at Winchcombe Station, Gloucestershire

This special exhibition by the renowned wildlife artist and steam locomotive owner David Shepherd is being held in aid of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and combines his two passions - endangered wildlife and steam locomotives. Also operating over the GWR railway during the weekend will be David Shepherd’s own giant of the steam age - locomotive 9F 2-10-0 No. 92203 Black Prince which was one of the last steam locomotives to be built by BR.

This is a rare opportunity to view recent original paintings by renowned wildlife artist and steam locomotive owner David Shepherd.

This is “third time lucky” by the GWR as the first event was postponed last July because of flooding until October but then David Shepherd was taken ill.

The paintings will be on display on both days at Winchcombe Station, which can be reached by steam train from either Cheltenham Racecourse or Toddington stations on the GWR. The collection includes sketches painted over 40 years ago by David, as he witnessed the extinction of many types of steam locomotive, as well as recent paintings that capture on canvas some of the beautiful animals now clinging to the very edge of survival.

The event not only celebrates the vital work of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, which has raised over £3.25 million in aid of some of the planet’s most vulnerable animals such as tigers, rhinos, elephants and bears, but it also marks the end of steam on British Railways 40 years ago.

It is exactly 40 years since David Shepherd took delivery of his locomotive 9F 2-10-0 No 92203 Black Prince which is resident on the GWR. This was one of the last steam locomotives to be built by British Railways, emerging from the Swindon Works on 1959. Just nine years later David saved it from extinction by purchasing it straight out of BR service.

Garry Owen, the GWR Chairman says “Over recent years, David Shepherd’s wonderful locomotive has captured the imagination of thousands of visitors to our railway, and we are deeply grateful that he has chosen the GWR as the permanent home for Black Prince.”
“This is an opportunity for us to say thank you and to put something back into the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. All proceeds from the weekend, including a percentage of our ticket income will go to the Foundation.”

On both days David Shepherd will be available at Winchcombe Station to discuss his works whilst a range of prints, cards and other items will be available for sale.

David Shepherd OBE, FRSA is regarded as being one of the world’s leading wildlife and landscape artists and as a leading conservationist. He has been featured in a BBC documentary of his life, has made a series of six wildlife films for ITV and others and has been the “target” for “This is Your Life.” He has also written six books covering all aspects of his life including wildlife and steam railways.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway plc
The Railway Station,
Toddington,
Gloucestershire,
GL54 5DT

Telephone: 01242 621405
www.gwsr.com

Source: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

www.davidshepherd.org

Tags: animals | exhibition | gloucestershire | cheltenham | railways | warwickshire | winchcombe | toddington

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