Media invite: Local artists to celebrate Devon’s rich literary history with unveiling at Exeter St Davids in time for World Book Day
A permanent, new artwork at Exeter St David’s station is set to be unveiled this week in time for World Book Day.
Media invite
Where: Exeter St David’s station
When: 1430, Thursday 7 March
RSVP: James.Davis@gwr.com.
The artwork, drawn by local artists Isabel Keen (working under the name Billy Ruffian) and Jack Ratcliff, celebrates Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature designation, and supported by Great Western Railway’s (GWR) Customer and Community Improvement Fund.
Inspired by Devon’s great writers and literary locations, the artwork features scenes from timeless works of literature by authors such as Philip Reeve and Agatha Christie, as well as familiar places and faces from around the region.
These include students of Exeter College and St.Martin’s Primary School, staff from the NHS and Libraries Unlimited, local authors Michael Morpurgo and Sabine Baring-Gould, and the Exeter City of Literature team.
Last April a Penguin Books vending machine was installed at the station thanks to a partnership between Penguin Books, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature and Great Western Railway. Clare and Michael Morpurgo officially unveiled the machine with remarks from Clare about her father, Sir Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books.
Sir Allen Lane was inspired to found Penguin Books after he couldn’t find a good book to read at Exeter St Davids station. Penguin and Exeter went back to their roots to ensure that Exeter’s commuters won’t face the same problem with the Penguin Books vending machine.
GWR’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund is designed to support small and medium rail-related projects that can be completed over the course of the 2024/25 financial year.
GWR has announced that they are now inviting bids for the Customer and Community Improvement Fund for the 2024/25 financial year. The fund opened to bids at the end of February and closes on Monday 25 March.
Contact Information
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us.
Exeter City of Literature is a charity established to steward the UNESCO Creative City designation that Exeter received in 2019. Our vision is for everyone to love stories and storytelling and our mission is to celebrate diverse stories by working with our local and global communities. With 53 other UNESCO Cities of Literature, we provide opportunities for Devon residents to collaborate internationally and to use stories to better understand each other and the world we live in.
We believe in the power of words to imagine new possibilities for this world. Drawing on Exeter and Devon’s creativity and working in partnership with inspirational organisations, we will deliver a meaningful programme to the residents and visitors of our city and county for years to come.'