A Few Words On The Men Behind The Idea |
The founders of Artsteam have both been life long railway enthusiasts but in "real life" they have persued very different careers. However it was their first interest in railways that caused their tracks to cross in 1998 when they met at an exhibition.
Prior to that for Adrian standing at Nottingham Victoria station in the early sixty's is one of the first memories he has of railways. Then it was back to the family home to be surrounded by many works of art hanging on the walls, many of them done by previous generations of the family. So he has always had a love of both railways and art.
Joining the R.B.S. when he was barely Fifteen did determine the rest of this life. Not the Royal Bank of Scotland or Remember British Steam but the Royal Ballet School. To be paid to travel the world and in your spare time visit local and international art exhibitions and possibly pop off on ssome scenic railway, was certainly a luxury. But with a career that started with the Royal Ballet Company and appearing internationally with companies world wide, that is what happened.
There are probably more connections between ballet and trains than one might think. Rudolf Nureyev, one of ballet's greatest legends was born on a train, and Diagalev's famous "Ballet Russe" wioth Nijinsky performed a ballet called "Le train bleu", named after the prestigious French train that that ran to the cote d'azur, are just two.
A balmy sunny afternoon in Bloomfoatein, South Africa in the early eighties, and an hour on the foot plate of the station pilot was an invitation that seemed such a natural offer to accept at the time. Another memory that rests alongside Nottingham Victoria, but with a twenty year gap.
In those twenty years he has had the privilage of meeting many artists and so it was with Francesco Villicich. He was one of the stars dancing in a company that Adrian was directing when he got to know about fine art skills.
A chance meeting with Mike Smith at an exhibition and a few discussions later, the idea was born and ArtSteam is the result. Mike Smith was also a Midlander, at least by upbringing but having been born in Crewe his railway die was cast at the youngest of ages. Those earlist of days were spent living at his Grandfathers Queens Hotel adjacent to the famous Crewe North Shed.
A sporty father ensured that sport became probably the most important factors in the rest of Mike's life. Hockey the major amongest these and by 1974 he had set up a specialist hockey equipment supply company that has kept him very busy ever since. Playing the game for 45 years has also kept him busy but the interest in railways has gradually resurfaced over the past couple of decades.
An early collection of railwayana and models has been added to, plus a collection of paintings and prints. It is in the miniature gauges where the interest has really resurfaced, initially with a 5" layout in the garden. Latterly it has moved up to 7 1/4" gauge as chairman of Woking Miniature Railway Society (www.wmrs.co.uk) and owner of a couple of steam locos. They may not be the same size as the Cathedrals Express but it is something to do on Sundays!
