The history of the railways is pictured at nostalgic exhibition, RailArt

Exuding majesty as they chug off the canvas they have been painted on, there is an instant appeal to the age of the steam locomotive for artists.

As they journey through their rural, industrial and cosmopolitan landscapes, there is a romance about them which has been captured in the RailArt exhibition.

This collection of images will be put on show at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, including works from railway and wildlife artist David Shepherd.

The works are by members of the Guild of Railway Artists. Although predominately oils, acrylics and watercolours, members are known to produce works in pen and ink, pencil, pastel, crayon, gouache and digital.

For more than 150 years, steam and diesel locomotives rumbling along the tracks have inspired artists such as Monet, Turner, Frith and Bourne.

Gore and Hopper depicted the heyday of the steam railway. Post-war, a new era emerged with paintings by Terence Cuneo, Hamilton Ellis and David Shepherd.

The collection going on show inside No.1 Smithery: The Gallery will be made up of works from across the eras of railway art.

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s Alex Patterson said: “We are thrilled that the Guild of Railway Artists has chosen the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, for its 2012 exhibition.

“The dockyard is an appropriate venue for such significant works of art.

“These evocative pictures explore a variety of styles and themes – including day-to-day life – that will appeal to not only railway enthusiasts but the wider public.”

To coincide with the exhibition, the Dockyard has put on a series of Easter holiday events, from print-making workshops to collage-making.

Visitor services manager Pam Wood said: “Families will be able to use a variety of print-making techniques including polystyrene tile printing, mono printing and potato printing for the younger ones.

“They will be able to create individual designs, and then make colourful prints. It is a chance for all the family to be creative together and they will be able to take home all the prints they make in the session.”

Also in keeping with the railway theme, a new Hidden Dockyard Railway Tour will be running during the holidays. It will give families an introduction to the collection of steam and diesel locomotives which live at the Historic Dockyard.

Starting in the No. 3 Covered Slip, the guides will reveal all about Overlord, which was involved in the D-Day Landings, and explain what a donkey boiler is.

They will then follow the old dockyard railway line through the site into the Railway Workshop to see what goes on behind the scenes and see how a steam engine works.

RailArt will be shown in No. 1 Smithery: The Gallery at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, from the afternoon of Saturday, March 31, until Sunday, May 13. Family activities run from Sunday, April 1, to Sunday, April 15. The Hidden Dockyard Railway Tour will run from Monday to Friday, April 2 to 6, and 9 to 13. Entry to the RailArt exhibition is included with a standard ticket, valid for 12 months, but a small charge applies to some of the family activities. Tickets £16.50, concessions £14, children £11, families £45. Call 01634 823800.