John Austin
After a diversity of occupations that included creative lighting designer and pub landlord, changing circumstances gave John the opportunity to realise a lifelong ambition to become an artist specialising in the depiction of the steam railway.
A move to a cold 300 year old house on the banks of the River Severn at Bridgnorth, close to the Severn Valley Railway, provided a perfect inspirational environment.
A large canvas depicting SR Pacific Taw Valley painted on site in December 1987 was displayed in The Railwayman's Arms, at Bridgnorth Station, attracting much criticism by Severn Railway staff and volunteers. It became painfully obvious that a greater knowledge of the subject would be required so John started working as a volunteer.
At present, John's life is dominated by long hours of painting but is happy in the knowledge that a few pints of real ale in The Railwayman's Arms will be his reward at the end of the day.