Lincolnshire artist hoping to "inspire" next generation with murals
Nikita Spires has created five artworks along the Barton railway line
We've been talking to the Lincolnshire artist responsible for the striking new murals along the Barton railway line.
Nikita Spires is from Louth and studied art at Franklin College in Grimsby.
Her work is now centre stage at five stations: Stallingborough, Great Coates, Cleethorpes, Grimsby Docks and New Clee.
"So it's a pretty big collection, and each one basically represents the past and the present of the railways," said Nikita.
"Some of them have fishing heritage as well, lots of fishing boats, others are depictions of Victorian ticket officers.
"A lot of it is from local photos and history."
The project is a celebration of 200 years of the railway line by Barton Cleethorpes Community Rail Partnership (BCCRP).
"I really hope that I can inspire other young creatives, especially those attending Franklin College," said Nikita.
"To show that it is possible to make a career out of being an artist because most of my life a lot of career teachers said that it wasn't possible.
"But I am proof that it is possible."
The ‘Art Along the Line’ project forms part of nationwide Railway 200 celebrations, marking two centuries since the birth of the modern railway and its profound influence on communities, commerce, and culture across the UK.
The work in North East Lincolnshire has been made possible by funding from m East Midlands Railway (EMR) and the Community Rail Network (CRN).
"The conversations that I had with the locals shaped the visuals," said Nikita.
"I also had meetings with the station adopters and basically their stories and memories, and their photos and archives shaped the images that I have created.
"I wanted to create something that resonates with the shared heritage."