|
NEWS RELEASE 6th July 2007 DAVID SHEPHERD STEAM AND WILDLIFE:
There’s a rare opportunity to view recent paintings by renowned wildlife artist and steam locomotive owner David Shepherd, together with some of his iconic railway paintings from the dying days of steam on British Railways, at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway over the weekend of July 21st and 22nd. At a time when there is growing concern about the plight of the natural environment around the world, this special exhibition: Wildlife and Steam On Tour, is being held in aid of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and combines his two passions – endangered wildlife and steam locomotives. And operating over the railway during the weekend will be David Shepherd’s own iconic giant of the steam age: locomotive no. 92203 ‘Black Prince’.* 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; it also marks the end of the steam era on the Southern Region of British Railways, 40 years ago this July. An evening with David Shepherd Says Garry Owen, the GWR’s Chairman: “Over recent years, David Shepherd’s wonderful locomotive has captured the imagination of thousands of visitors to our railway and we’re 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 Foundation. “All proceeds from ‘An Evening with David Shepherd’ and a percentage of our ticket income during the weekend will go to the Foundation,” he adds. On both days, David Shepherd will be available at Winchcombe to discuss his work while a range of prints, cards and other items will be available for sale. Full information at www.gwsr.com or 01242 621 405 Notes for Editors * David Shepherd is owner of British Railways 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 Swindon works in 1959. Just nine years later, David saved it from extinction by purchasing it straight out of British Railways service. It is now resident on the GWR but will be visiting the North Norfolk Railway during the latter part of August and early September. ** Tickets are available from An Evening with David Shepherd, The Railway Station, Toddington, Gloucestershire GL54 5DT or apply via the GWR website: www.gwsr.com Media contacts: Nicky Vyvyan-Robinson, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation |