Published: Wednesday, 30th March 2022
A local railway partnership has unveiled a set of early 20th Century inspired posters to encourage people to visit the District by train.
For decades, railway companies produced colourful, iconic posters to encourage the public to travel by train.
Inspired by these campaigns, the Darent Valley Community Rail Partnership, (Sevenoaks District Council, Southeastern, Thameslink and local councils), commissioned artist Kit Boyd to produce a set of posters representing each of the six station areas between Sevenoaks and Swanley.
An established British romantic artist, Kit’s work reflects his love of nature and as a lifelong fan of Shoreham artist Samuel Palmer, Kit had the chance to record his own responses to this beautiful part of Kent.
Kit travelled to each station several times, talking to locals, visiting landmarks and exploring local museums. The final artworks then came together, with several vibrant linocuts, one ink drawing and a watercolour.
In each image there are small details reflecting the history or special features of each area. These include a subtle solar system in the Otford pond, a towering cumulus cloud in the Shoreham poster (very Samuel Palmer), Virginia Woolf’s character Orlando sitting under a tree in Knole Park, or the markets, horticultural history and Bill Mitchell’s sculptures captured in Swanley’s poster.
The Darent Valley Community Rail Partnership posters reference the beautiful 1920s and 30s travel posters, which captured people’s hearts and remain well loved today. These new posters will be used as part of a new campaign on station platforms throughout the south east and on social media to encourage sustainable visits to and within the Darent Valley.
Visit www.darentvalleycrp.org for more information.
Cllr Lesley Dyball, the Council’s Cabinet Member for People and Places, says: “We are delighted to have these wonderfully creative posters to celebrate travelling by train on our picturesque Darent Valley Line between Sevenoaks and Swanley.
“Working with talented artist Kit Boyd and local graphic designer Tim Higginson has been a real pleasure. Spending time in each community was vital to the outcome and many people contributed to each artwork.
“We cannot wait to see them up along the line and far beyond.”
The Darent Valley Community Rail Partnership was set up in September 2019 and is working with local communities to revive all the stations from Sevenoaks to Swanley, improving facilities, the environment and onward journeys, whilst also encouraging locals and visitors to use and enjoy rail travel. It is funded by Sevenoaks District Council, GTR Thameslink, Southeastern, Sevenoaks Town Council, Swanley Town Council, Eynsford Parish Council, Shoreham Parish Council and Otford Parish Council.
The posters were unveiled at Bat and Ball Station on Monday 28 March 2022.
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