Painting with 'wow' factor unveiled at Bishopstone railway station

The painting is the work of semi-retired professional artist Andrew Dandridge who is now a director and volunteer with the Friends of Bishopstone Station.

The 8ft by 4ft painting is based on a photo Andrew took at the ‘Seaford 150’ event in June 2014 when steam trains travelled on the route to mark 150 years since the railway line was extended from Newhaven to Bishopstone and Seaford.

He said: “It was perfect for what I wanted to do. I modified the two 1930s figures to present a mixture of modern day and art deco. The two figures are a throwback. I researched to find something suitable and played around with the images to fit the scene.

“I wanted people to walk through the station, for the painting to hit them in the eyes and go ‘wow’.”

Andrew used acrylic paint set onto a water-resistant mdf board and sealed with a base layer. He says it took him four weeks to paint as it was a complicated picture – it was also the biggest painting he has ever undertaken.

“It evolved in a number of different directions. I had the initial idea and it grew and developed a life of its own. You never know how a painting will turn out until you come to the end,” he added.