Autumn 2022 is proving a busy season at Goostrey Art Studio.

In September, Goostrey Beavers held their weekly meeting at the station. It was good to experience their enthusiasm as they took part in activities planned jointly by artist Debbie Goldsmith and FOGS volunteers. Some children started the evening by making leaf prints in the Art Studio. Others were busy investigating the bug hotels, sweeping fallen leaves from the steps and car park, or planting tubs of daffodils for Spring colour. All the Beavers were excited by trains passing through the station at high speed or stopping to allow passengers to get on or off.

At the start of October, Debbie Goldsmith attended a national Community Rail event in Manchester where FOGS received an award for the renovation of the Victorian station building and its conversion into Goostrey Art Studio. The next day she was putting the final touches to a Goosfest event at which 16 local artists displayed their work in the Old Barn at Orchards Farm. And the following weekend Debbie welcomed the public to her second Open Studio in Goostrey. Visitors were able to view recent work in progress and to buy her paintings, prints and rugs. At the moment she’s exploring her immediate surroundings in the Cheshire countryside and this provides inspiration for her expressionist paintings. Her recent move to the studio has allowed her continue to push the boundaries of her practice.

There’s still lots of work going on behind the scenes to bring all the creative work of the Platinum Plaque Project together. The final product will be installed at Goostrey station as a permanent legacy of Queen Elizabeth 11’s jubilee.