Art student on the right track for HS2’s arrival

A Birmingham City University visual communications student has beaten beat off stiff competition to win an art competition marking the arrival of HS2 in Birmingham.

Sarina Kaur’s winning design is now on display between the Roman-inspired columns of the former Curzon Street Station in Eastside.

The station was the original gateway to Birmingham from Euston when the first inter-city rail services began in the 1830’s.

The original station, which is Grade I Listed, will form an integral part of the new HS2 terminus when it is eventually built.

To mark Royal Assent for the £56bn high speed rail scheme, Birmingham-based HS2 Ltd joined forces with the university in a bid to find a talented artist whose winning design would be reproduced as a centrepiece to celebrate Curzon Street’s important railway heritage and exciting future.

Sarina’s original artwork was praised by the design panel, headed up by Sarah Weir OBE – former executive director of the Arts Council, for its “thoughtful combination of graphic and artistic style which references both the beginning and end of Curzon Street’s previous incarnation as a working railway station”.

The winning design has been reproduced on two 8.3 x 4.3 metre banners and is on display on the exterior of the station building, which is considered the oldest railway terminus in the world.

Sarina said: “I never expected to win, but I am delighted to have done so. The inspiration behind my design has taken influence by the illustrator and art director Kate Moross. Using a serif font and reforming the elements of a steam locomotive to represent the 19th century, I have merged elements of both traditional and modern styles, allowing audiences to understand how art has been influenced over the years.”

Birmingham City Council leader, John Clancy said: “Sarina’s artwork (left) symbolises the start of an exciting period of change for Birmingham Eastside. HS2 is a huge opportunity for our young and growing population, so we are delighted to have worked in partnership with HS2 Ltd, Birmingham City University and the local student community to celebrate the announcement that High Speed rail is coming to the city.”

The Curzon Street design competition was supported by the university’s Graduate+ initiative, which looks to identify and develop students’ experience and build on their skills, enhancing and supporting their employment options when they leave university.

Lesley Taylor, Graduate+ Programme Manager, Birmingham City University, said: “We were blown away by the quality and quantity of work we received in this competition. Although many entries came from students in our Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, we were delighted to see incredible pieces from those studying building surveying, nursing and radiography, for example.”