Local artist to create new mural at Bristol's Ashley Down railway station

A talented local artist has been chosen to create a colourful mural at Ashley Down railway station to celebrate the rich railway heritage of Bristol and the West. 

Andy Council was picked by a panel of judges after a ‘call out’ to local creatives by Severnside Community Rail Partnership on behalf of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.  

The mural is set to brighten up the entrance of the £23 million station. It was made possible thanks to a £3,000 grant from Great Western Railway (GWR) and £1,000 investment from the Mayoral Combined Authority. 

Over 20 artists put themselves forward to create the mural, which will be unveiled at Ashley Down to celebrate its first anniversary next month. The unveiling in late September will also coincide with the national celebrations for Railway 200, marking the 200^th anniversary of the modern railway.

Image - Street Art Atlas, Andy Council

Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, said:  

“Well done Andy! We had a fantastic response to the artist call out and I know it really was hard for the panel to pick just one. I can’t wait to see the mural that Andy creates, working with the local community. 

“Ashley Down station has been a huge success since opening almost 12 months ago. This artwork will be a celebration of the station itself and the rich heritage of the local area, the city, and our whole region.” 

GWR Station Manager Marcus Deegan said: 

“We were very impressed by Andy’s submission and can’t wait to see his work on display. Ashley Down has proven to be a real success story following its opening in September last year and this mural will help to provide an even more welcoming entrance to the station. 

“Great Western Railway’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in our communities and we were really pleased to be able to support this project.” 

Andy, who is from Bristol, has been working with Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Bristol Rovers FC, and local councillors to get ideas and inspiration for the mural. 

Andy Council, the artist, said: 

“I'm very happy to have been chosen to paint this prominent wall which will greet passengers at the new station. It's exciting to have a station at this location once again which will offer Bristolians more options to get around the city and beyond.   

“I plan on painting creatures that are made up of local landmarks which will represent the areas people, history, sporting heritage and wildlife. Gaining local knowledge of an area is key to my work and I'm looking forward to working with community members to make this piece extra special.” 

Faye Keane, Community Development Officer at Severnside Community Rail Partnership, said: 

"The call out for an artist had a great response from the creative community in Bristol and we are excited that Andy has been selected for our latest art scheme. His signature style will offer a playful and impressive mural representing the history and community of Ashley Down." 

The judges who scored all the artist submissions included councillors from Bristol City Council, as well as representatives from GWR, Severnside Community Rail Partnership and Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, amongst a host of others. 

Ashley Down is the newest station to open in the West of England. On the site of the former Ashley Hill station, which closed in the Beeching Cuts of the 1960s, it was the second new station to open in Bristol in just under a century – one year after Portway Park & Ride station opened in 2023. It forms part of the West’s ambitious wider £400 million rail investment plans for the region which includes building new stations and adding extra services. Just this week, regional authority funded plans were published to make Lawrence Hill station accessible with a new lift and stairs.

Five more new stations are set to be built over the coming years: North Filton, Charfield, Henbury, Pill, and Portishead.