40 x 30cm
£395 

Painting of Newport Road, Cardiff

A Good Day Out? (Newport Road, Cardiff)

This painting of Newport Road, Cardiff is part of the series "Valley Lines: Bargoed to the Bay".

The paintings explore the historical, economic and cultural connections - both physical and emotional - between people and places in the South Wales Valleys and Cardiff.

The paintings invite the viewer to reflect on Cardiff and the Valleys' move from a (physically tough) industrial and maritime economy, based on the mining, transport and export of coal, to an e-commerce, media and tourism based economy of entertainment and leisure opportunities.

The Class 37 locomotive is pulling a "Mystery Trip" Excursion Train.

The "Mystery Trip" is starting out on its final leg of the journey: the the end of the line in Bargoed.

Yet the colours in the painting are bright, though the shadows of evening under the bridge are darkening.

Bridges and railways are common themes in my paintings. 

Bridges represent the passing from one stage of life to another (growing up).

Railway lines represent the passing of time, as one views the passing of the landscape from the carriage window, or seeing the train pass, as one seems to view the passing of a loved one, or of your children growing up and moving away, while you feel you are standing still and remaining the same.