![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samsdp.co.uk\/sdp-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/leah-and-vince-gwr-print.png?resize=1500%2C1000&ssl=1\")
A few weeks ago, Great Western Railway (GWR) had a very special event onboard one of their Intercity Express Trains!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For one of, if not the only, time in British railway history a couple tied the knot onboard a moving train. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
GWR was approached by a couple, Leah & Vince, who have an affinity with the railways. The couple were offered a truly unique experience to get married onboard a GWR train at 125mph and after a bit of careful scheduling and arranging a plan was formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As this was truly a one-off event, GWR wanted to make it as special and memorable as possible for the couple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The communications team at GWR reached out to me to see if I would be up for creating a design as a wedding gift for the couple. I worked with GWR last year to design a print for a train naming and they were looking for another design in a similar style. They left me to create a vision of what I thought would work for this print and to execute my ideas; so, I had free reign to create whatever I felt would fit the brief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had an image in my head of what I wanted to create. I knew I needed to ensure that the print had as many links to the wedding day and the couple as I could practicality fit onto the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wedding train was going to be leaving from London Paddington so I thought it would be fitting to have the poster centred around the iconic London terminus. I chose to illustrate a less commonly depicted part of the station being the frontage of the Paddington station roof as if you were looking back towards the station. I wanted to have the type of train that the couple were going to travel on as the focal point of the design, as well as a traditional steam locomotive; as I was informed the couple were a fan of the heritage railways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also added some more subtle details to the print that would hopefully make the print even more special and relevant to the couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took a lot of fiddling and playing about with colours, style, and the more technical parts of the illustration, but soon enough it was in a state to be sent over to GWR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a few rounds of amendments, GWR were happy with the design and they sent it to be printed and framed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was so lovely to see, via social media, the couple\u2019s reactions when they opened the print on the day of the wedding, and I am honoured to know they have kept my art as a keepsake from their truly \u2018once-in-a-lifetime\u2019 day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you so much to GWR for providing me with such a brilliant opportunity to work on this very special project and it was fantastic to work with such a great team again! <\/p>\n\n\n\n