Untitled Document

NEWS

Although we are only four prints into the Cathedrals Express project, a great deal of preparatory work has already gone into the idea. The essence of our paintings is that they must be based on real scenes, although the artist has to be given some licence otherwise a photograph might do? Our first painting and print was of Canterbury as this is one of Steam Dreams’ most popular destinations. It may also prove to be one of our easiest, as an ideal location was not too difficult to find. Other cathedrals have not proved quite so easy.

THE LAUNCH

The official launch of our project took place on the Cathedrals Express to Salisbury on 21st August 2002.

The success of the Canterbury picture had proved to us the popularity of our idea. So, as soon as the Salisbury painting and prints were completed, we got Frank over from Italy to coincide with a run to Salisbury. A photo-call at Salisbury Station gave us lots of local publicity and drew lots of interest from the passengers. Frank personalized all of the sales on the day, something that we hope to repeat from time to time.

OUR FIRST EXHIBITION

Ironically, this was not for the Cathedrals Express but to launch the Narrow Gauge Series. It took place at Noyelles, the mid point on the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme in April 2003. It was on the occasion of their bi-annual steam festival. This is an event and location really worth visiting – only an hour from Calais. We took over the gallery at the Relais de la Baie de Somme.

Our efforts seemed to be well-received by both locals and visitors. We sold quite a few prints including a couple of Cathedrals Express! The splendid painting of the Baie de Somme by local artist Reynald Goldstein was the centrepiece and caused a great deal of interest. Our presence was well received with the Mayor popping in a few times. A copy of the print now hangs in the Mairie (the Town Hall).

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

Below is a list of the developments which are taking place with the rest of the paintings. Each one will give you some background on the painting, when we expect them to have them on release and hopefully an idea of what the painting should look like when completed (please note that this could and will probable change!)

CHICHESTER – Due in print Easter 2005.

Number 4 in our series and will be issued later this year. A little artistic licence was needed to remove an intervening supermarket car park. Otherwise a superb view of both the railway and the cathedral. But we felt that it needed a little elevation. On one occasion when we visited the scene, there was some building going on. They were using one of those extending platform lifts that can take you very high – it did! But it gave us a great vantage point and a superb painting has resulted.

WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER - Due in print late 2005

Or more accurately called Shakespeare Cliffs, will be number 5. This scene also required us to get off the ground, this time in a plane. We flew from Biggin Hill, the first time that Francesco had been up in a light aircraft. We were very lucky with the weather for this late-afternoon shot. It is in fact the Cathedrals Express homeward run from Canterbury, reaching the cliffs around 6 pm.

We arrived over the cliffs ten minutes or so before the train, flying up and down to gain a good position for the “main run”! It worked well and some interesting cloud formations tumbling off the cliffs will make a great painting. The flight back over the Kent countryside took us over Leeds Castle, which would make a wonderful venue if the railway ran near by!

This is our first non-ecclesiastical cathedral. It has to be one of the most important and instantly recognised British landmarks, which makes it a must for this series.
The White Clifs of Dover due to be avaialble in late 2005

BATH. Due in print late 2005.

An Abbey actually, but a splendid church set in the creamy stone surroundings of this beautiful city. It really is one of the most elegant English towns. Viewed from the cliffs above the town, it is a wonderful panorama. The railway sweeps through in the foreground with the Abbey, several other churches and the Georgian crescents making up the townscape. Greenery is provided by the famous rugby and cricket grounds, and the river also wanders through the picture. This really will be a superb painting.

Bath Cathedral available inn later 2005

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Due in print early 2006.

Our second non-ecclesiastical cathedral in the series and arguably the most famous building in Britain. Despite immense development either side of the railway corridor out of Waterloo, there is a gap that gives us a splendid and real picture of the railway, the train and the Houses of Parliament. No flying necessary here, just a platform ticket.
Houses of Parliment available in early 2006

GUILDFORD. Due in print mid 2006.

One of the nations more modern cathedrals. Occupying its elevated position above the town, it is a landmark for miles around. This is even more so at night when it is floodlit and so it is a night scene that we have chosen for this picture. We have already done an exploratory picture, which Frank will be “working up” next year. Guildford is the home of Steam Dreams, nearby is the Watercress Line that provides the trains, and we are based at Woking just down the road.

ARUNDEL. Due in print mid 2005.

This painting is already “in the can”. A beautiful pastoral scene of the sleepy town of Arundel. It includes both the cathedral and the castle, a scene that can be viewed on the Cathedrals Express visits to Chichester, although it does not stop at Arundel. The illustration shown here is the actual painting.
Arundel due in mid 2005

WORCESTER. Due in print 2006.

We were delighted when this destination was added to the Cathedrals Express itinerary. There is a perfect location as the train comes out of Worcester, over the river Severn with the Cathedral in the background.

Details to follow

YORK. Due in print 2006.

Although not a destination for the Cathedrals Express at present, this is a must for a series of paintings of railways and cathedrals. York Minster is one of our finest cathedrals and York is probably the centre of railway preservation with the National Railway Museum and its almost cathedral-like station. An old view of York appears on the background page and a little changed view of it today appears below. Just imagine a steam train pulling out and you have the scene.

York Cathedral available in 2006

That leaves us four to go – what are the possibilities?

WINCHESTER is the prime candidate, in fact in the top three of our original list but it is a very difficult location. We have been there umpteen times and we have painted one picture, which does not work. It is a beautiful city and has some splendid vantage points but the railway is in a cutting and we cannot find a view that takes in both of our aspects. So we considered an historical aspect and did a painting looking from the hill over the old Chesil Station with a fabulous view of the cathedral, city and college.

Unfortunately there is too much licence! The line closed in the ‘60s and was GWR, so green carriages would not have been seen. However, nothing would have been seen as the line was cut tightly into the hillside and could not be seen from further up. Because of the importance of Winchester, we are going to give it one more try. Up in a helicopter to see if there is a view from the west, looking across the railway in its cutting, to the cathedral which is actually quite a short distance beyond.

LONDON is the starting point of the Cathedrals Express but has no ecclesiastical entry so far. There is however a really great shot – the only one we can think of anywhere that includes two cathedrals. These are Southwark in the foreground and the mighty St Paul’s in the middle. In-between is the Thames, Canon Street station and bridge with the railway sweeping round in the foreground. Clear out a bit of the 1960’s architecture and we have a great picture. The problem is that preserved steam has not used Canon Street, so would we be pushing artistic licence a bit far?

There are at least four more definite contenders. NORWICH, LINCOLN, DURHAM and EDINBURGH. The fact that they are named together here does not dismiss any of them. We know that they will all work, it is just that we have not had the time yet to check them out ourselves.

Do you know of any other possibilities? Please email us.

NEWS
Although we are only four prints into the Cathedrals Express project, a great deal of preparatory work has already gone into the idea. The essence of our paintings is that they must be based on real scenes, although the artist has to be given some licence otherwise a photograph might do? Our first painting and print was of Canterbury as this is one of Steam Dreams’ most popular destinations. It may also prove to be one of our easiest, as an ideal location was not too difficult to find. Other cathedrals have not proved quite so easy.
THE LAUNCH
The official launch of our project took place on the Cathedrals Express to Salisbury on 21st August 2002. The success of the Canterbury picture had proved to us the popularity of our idea. So, as soon as the Salisbury painting and prints were completed, we got Frank over from Italy to coincide with a run to Salisbury. A photo-call at Salisbury Station gave us lots of local publicity and drew lots of interest from the passengers. Frank personalized all of the sales on the day, something that we hope to repeat from time to time.

OUR FIRST EXHIBITION
	Ironically, this was not for the Cathedrals Express but to launch the Narrow Gauge Series. It took place at Noyelles, the mid point on the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme in April 2003. It was on the occasion of their bi-annual steam festival. This is an event and location really worth visiting – only an hour from Calais. We took over the gallery at the Relais de la Baie de Somme.
Our efforts seemed to be well-received by both locals and visitors. We sold quite a few prints including a couple of Cathedrals Express! The splendid painting of the Baie de Somme by local artist Reynald Goldstein was the centrepiece and caused a great deal of interest. Our presence was well received with the Mayor popping in a few times. A copy of the print now hangs in the Mairie (the Town Hall).

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS
Below is a list of the developments which are taking place with the rest of the paintings. Each one will give you some background on the painting, when we expect them to have them on release and hopefully an idea of what the painting should look like when completed (please note that this could and will probable change!)

CHICHESTER – Due in print Easter 2005.
Number 4 in our series and will be issued later this year. A little artistic licence was needed to remove an intervening supermarket car park. Otherwise a superb view of both the railway and the cathedral. But we felt that it needed a little elevation. On one occasion when we visited the scene, there was some building going on. They were using one of those extending platform lifts that can take you very high – it did! But it gave us a great vantage point and a superb painting has resulted.

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. Due in print early 2006.
Our second non-ecclesiastical cathedral in the series and arguably the most famous building in Britain. Despite immense development either side of the railway corridor out of Waterloo, there is a gap that gives us a splendid and real picture of the railway, the train and the Houses of Parliament. No flying necessary here, just a platform ticket.

ARUNDEL. Due in print mid 2005.
This painting is already “in the can”. A beautiful pastoral scene of the sleepy town of Arundel. It includes both the cathedral and the castle, a scene that can be viewed on the Cathedrals Express visits to Chichester, although it does not stop at Arundel. The illustration shown here is the actual painting.

WORCESTER. Due in print 2006.
We were delighted when this destination was added to the Cathedrals Express itinerary. There is a perfect location as the train comes out of Worcester, over the river Severn with the Cathedral in the background.	Details to follow

That leaves us four to go – what are the possibilities?
WINCHESTER is the prime candidate, in fact in the top three of our original list but it is a very difficult location. We have been there umpteen times and we have painted one picture, which does not work. It is a beautiful city and has some splendid vantage points but the railway is in a cutting and we cannot find a view that takes in both of our aspects. So we considered an historical aspect and did a painting looking from the hill over the old Chesil Station with a fabulous view of the cathedral, city and college.
Unfortunately there is too much licence! The line closed in the ‘60s and was GWR, so green carriages would not have been seen. However, nothing would have been seen as the line was cut tightly into the hillside and could not be seen from further up. Because of the importance of Winchester, we are going to give it one more try. Up in a helicopter to see if there is a view from the west, looking across the railway in its cutting, to the cathedral which is actually quite a short distance beyond.