Art depicting Swindon’s proud craft and industrial history will return home this month, as part of Swindon Open Studios.

John Webb was a well-known Swindon artist who died in 2023.

As an art student in the 1950s, Mr Webb wanted to make a record of the work and craftsmanship being shown at the Swindon Railway and was able to go inside the buildings.

(Image: Trevor Hancock)

His paintings and drawings show aspects of the work taking place, from cutting equipment to individual workers.

Now some of the work will be put on display, fittingly in the old GWR Carriage Works on London Street, which has undergone an incredible renovation and gained a new lease of life over the last few years.

Mr Webb’s painting will be part of an exhibition hosted by Podpad Studios and will feature work by about 20 other local artists as well as Podpad Studios' mechanical art such as a full-size Batmobile and robots

The studio will be open on September 21, 22,  28 and 29 from 11am to 3.30pm, closing at 4pm.

Entrance is via Create Studios. 

For further information see www.swindonopenstudios.org/artist/john-webb

The Carriage Works is owned by Swindon Borough Council which is renovating the building in phases.

It already hosts the Workshed, for start-up digital businesses, Create Studios and two spaces for the Royal Agricultural University and the Innovation Institute of Bath and Oxford Universities.