The David Weston Gallery

Note: for commentary on each of the following scenes and for a larger view of the images, please click on each of the pictures in turn.

[ Northgates ] [ West Bridge ] [ Castle Gateway ] [ Rupert's Gateway ]

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   [Spring in the Park - Bradgate]  [Summer in the Park - Bradgate]

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[Railway Art by David Weston]

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Transportation Scenes [page one] by David Weston

Bullnose Morris, Grand Union Canal Locks, Horse-drawn Transport,

Fairground Traction Engine, Model T Ford, Steam Roller,

London Transport

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I  need information on these three prints - can you help?

Transportation Scenes [page two] by David Weston

Gypsy Caravan, Coal Barges, 1902 Ivel Tractor,

Whitby Bay, 1925 Leyland Lion, Farm Traction Engine,

Trams - High Street, Leicester

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I  need information on these three prints - can you help?

 Artists Notes by David Weston:

Some years ago I produced a set of four paintings [see Leicester scenes above] that depicted something of the Leicester that I knew as a boy. They were published as a set of prints and from the many letters that I subsequently received it was obvious that so many natives of the Leicester of the late "forties" and early "fifties" held the self-same memories of these spots that I held myself. Leicester in those years had a great deal of individuality and interest about its streets and the intervening years of progress and development have done little to improve on what we had save for the relentless pursuit of making easier passage for the march of the internal combustion engine.  The resultant anonymity of many of the areas and streets which once bristled with character makes us recall these places as we used to know them, and in these new pictures reproduced here I have looked again at four more spots that I knew so well during my school days. This was a time when far fewer people were able to possess a motor-car, and bicycles were often the more usual means of getting "up-town. The trams too, which ran until 1949 swayed and clanked there noisy progress along the rails that lead towards Leicester�s clock tower. From here, it was but a short journey to West Bridge or Northgates � two of the subjects that I chose to paint to illustrate the feel of Leicester�s streets in those days.  The tramcars rattled their way along each, affording views that were certainly not pretty but were always exceedingly interesting in there variety of shops, architecture and the iron mongery of the old Great Central Railway as its latticed bridges carried its rails and steam locomotives overhead. The canal too added its own particular fascination to these two spots and passed below the West Bridge itself and that in Northgates [passed] at the spot know as frog island.

About the Artist:

As a painter, David Weston is well known for his wide variety of subjects.  Among his most favorite themes are landscapes, seascapes, interiors and exteriors of great houses and transport subjects.  He is perhaps best known for the latter; indeed, he is regarded by many as the foremost British painter in the transport art field.  Not only has David a keen eye for detail and authenticity, but his grasp of historical context of his subjects has led to the production of two great, entirely unique, series of paintings, tracing the history of the British steam locomotive and the story of the British traction Engine.  Both series are available as beautifully produced fine art prints. Recent projects include a similar set of paintings depicting the story of the British motor car and, in contrast, another series of oil paintings and water colours portraying the history of the English country house.  Aside from the historical interests shown in David's subjects, it is his portrayal of light and atmosphere that marks him out from other artists working in the same field.  The magical light of the interior of a country house, the sun and shadow of a hot summer's day, or the grey drizzle of a wet engine yard, all provide inspiration for this exceptional artist. 

In 1989, David Weston was elected a Patron of the National Children's Homes Umbrella Project. The other Patrons included His Grace the Duke of Rutland, Engelbert Humperdinck, Larry Grayson, Gordon Banks, Peter Wheeler and Willie Thorn. To support the fund-raising appeal, David presented the superb watercolour "Autumn in the Park - Bradgate" to the project, and the sales of Fine Art prints of the painting also benefited the appeal. Following that outstanding success, David painted the complementary study of a Spring scene in the same historic Leicestershire Park. Now he has completed the cycle of seasons by painting views set in Summer and Winter. 

All images reproduced with the kind permission of David Weston, courtesy of Lazy Acre Fine Arts Limited, (Distributor of David Weston's prints) Hollingshead Yard, Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 1NW. Phone: 01664 812600 

Nostalgia Junction is new section on Railway Art featuring 

six of David Weston's railway scenes. 

[ Nostalgia Junction]

[ Northgates ] [ West Bridge ] [ Castle Gateway ] [ Rupert's Gateway ] 

  [ Bradgate Park] [Transportation Scenes] [ Gallery ]