White Horse painting voted nation’s best-loved railway artwork

A painting of the Westbury White Horse, viewed through the window of a train carriage, has been voted the UK’s favourite piece of railway artwork. 

Train Landscape is a watercolour painting created in 1940 by artist Eric Ravilious and shows the view of the landmark through a third-class train carriage. 

Following a global poll held to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, the painting has now been named the UK’s best-loved railway artwork. 

Ella Ravilious, granddaughter of Eric Ravilious, said, “This painting was created with the assistance of my grandmother, Tirzah Garwood. Eric rode back and forth on the train, making several watercolours, none of which he was totally happy with. Tirzah collaged the best bits of each painting together to create a successful picture.” 

Train Landscape is currently held in the collection of Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums and has now been placed on public display. 

Andrew Ellis, Chief Executive of Art UK, said, “Art UK is delighted to have partnered with Railway 200 to connect the public to a truly wonderful selection of railway-inspired artworks held in collections across the UK. 

“This masterful evocation of a sighting of the Westbury White Horse from a railway carriage by Eric Ravilious is an extremely worthy winner.”  

Pictured: Train Landscape, watercolour on paper by Eric Ravilious. Image credit: Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums