A major new arts programme is shining an entirely new light on Middlesbrough’s Railway Station.
Rachael Clewlow’s Tees Colour Register, an ambitious and vibrant vinyl display spanning the full 50m length of the station’s concourse windows, is the first installation in the Most Creative Train Station programme.
It’s the first in a series of artworks in the station, in a partnership between Middlesbrough Council and artist-led organisation Navigator North, celebrating aspects of the town’s rail heritage through a series of striking and imaginative pieces of public art.
The coloured sections in Rachael’s work are transparent and feature 492 individual strips which allow coloured light to flood into the station, giving people a chance to see the well-used concourse in an entirely new way.
The colours used are based on observations from Rachael’s train journeys across our region beginning in Middlesbrough.
Rachael, who grew up in Linthorpe, took her notebook on each journey and kept detailed notes in tiny handwriting, mapping moments in time as she travelled.
“I’m from Middlesbrough and I’ve used the station so much during my life, that I was instantly drawn to this project,” she said.
“Travelling to places like Whitby and Saltburn by train did stir up an awful lot of childhood memories.
“Being on a train allows you to look out of the window and really take-in what’s going on, and each journey really highlighted how diverse our area is, you go from urban to suburban, into countryside and then the coastline. You can see new details in familiar places.”
Rachael’s installation, from left to right, details her journeys to Bishop Auckland, Saltburn, Hartlepool, Yarm and Whitby.
She recorded 212 points on her journey and took photos throughout, which contributed to the 492 individually-named colours.
“I hope that people can take joy from it, and that it helps celebrate what is actually a stunning building with some brilliant architecture,” continued Rachael.
“Maybe some people can take the station for granted because they’ve been using it for so long, but I think this project will make people look again.”
The Most Creative Station features artists based in the North-East, with four from Teesside, and include Emma Bennett, Ed Carter, Gareth Hudson & Toby Thirling, Beth Johnson, Keino, Helen Pailing and Adam Shaw.
Each artist commission offers a local perspective on the station’s history, the town's heritage and train travel across the region.
The next installation going into the station over the next couple of weeks is a structure created by Middlesbrough based artist Adam Shaw, inspired by an archive photo of the former ‘Ed Walker and Wilsons’ news kiosk on platform one.
It will house a printing press, which the artist will use to create and exhibit new work this summer, that responds to people’s memories of the station.
A sculpture inspired by the station’s original entrance, demolished after 35 years to make way for the current 1877 built-structure, is another installation, created by Ed Carter – while a large-scale aerial sculpture inspired by the towns industrial heritage using Meccano, by Helen Pailing, will explore ideas surrounding bridge-making and connectivity.
The project coincides with the multi-million pound refurbishment of the station, with creative installations continuing throughout the summer and into early 2025, and the wider regeneration of the town’s historic quarter.
Cllr Philippa Storey, Middlesbrough’s Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Culture, said: “Making Middlesbrough Station the most creative in the UK improves access to art and culture in our town, and celebrates one of our most striking and historic buildings.
“Each artist brings their own individual interpretation of the station, the town and rail travel across our area. Rachael’s work is wonderful and I’m excited to see the response to each installation from people who use the station.”
