London Art Exhibition At Victoria Station

Commemorating Richard Lee with an Exhibition at Victoria Train Station

South Western Train Drivers celebrate the life and memories of their friend and colleague, Richard Lee, who worked at Clapham Junction depot while helping raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.


Richard Lee, a train driver who shunted trains at Clapham Junction was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of 2016.
In December of the same year a group of his friends from South West Trains (now South Western Railway) got together and decided they wanted to do something special in Richard’s name, celebrating their memories of Richard and his working life at the depot. They arranged to meet with Richard’s cousin Paul Hiles, a fine Artist, to discuss commissioning an artwork of Clapham Junction; with the main objective being to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support in gratitude for the practical and emotional support they had given Richard and his wife Anne through very difficult times. Sadly, Richard lost his courageous battle with cancer in 2017 aged 58, but he was cheered at the end to know the fundraising was going to take place in his honour.

The end result of Paul’s artistic labours is a stunning aerial perspective taking in a swathe of London from Clapham Junction through to the City on the horizon.
Paul has concealed several tiny images and references reflecting Richard’s personal and working life within the highly detailed drawing, all waiting to be discovered by the viewer. Richard had many and varied interests but was first and foremost a big music fan and the references include Pink Floyd’s Animals album with a flying pig above Battersea Power Station, and a camel for the band Camel. The number 42 (Richard’s radio call sign) is on top of a train carriage.

Following meetings between Paul, Network Rail and Macmillan Cancer Support, permission has been given for a temporary art exhibition dedicated to Richard and this will take place on the main concourse of Victoria Train Station between the 25th and 27th July 2018. SWR drivers will be with Paul throughout the duration of the exhibition as part of the charity fundraising effort in aid of Macmillan Cancer support.

In addition to the main focal point of the exhibition, the Clapham Junction drawing, the exhibition will also feature four large original drawings of London created by Paul between 2013 and 2018, together with several mini original oil paintings of familiar and less familiar London locations. On close inspection the viewer can find stories, history and humour secreted amongst the intricately drawn depictions of the capital’s streets and iconic buildings.

A framed and signed Artist’s Proof A1 Print of the Clapham Junction drawing will be the First Prize in a prize draw, funds raised will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. It is hoped the subject matter will appeal to railway enthusiasts as well as to residents of SW11 and its environs. Signed prints of all the large drawings on display will also be available for purchase.

For further information please go to paulhiles.co.uk