An amateur photography competition is looking to celebrate local talent and 200 years of the railway connecting people across the county. The competition, run by Wiltshire’s community rail partnership TransWilts in collaboration with The Arts Society Kington Langley (TASKL), is now inviting entries.
As well as receiving prizes including photography gear and travel passes, winning entries will be featured at participating stations and may also appear in TransWilts and The Arts Society publications. The competition, which closes on 31 December, is open to photographers of all ages, with special categories open to Wiltshire’s young people aged 5 to 10 years, as well as 11 to 18 year olds.
Additionally, every image submitted will become part of a digital exhibition, ensuring that even those who don’t win a prize will have their work showcased to the public. With the brief to demonstrate how the railway connects communities past and present over the last 200 years, entrants can submit up to three photographs, whether it’s a bustling town centre station, a quiet rural halt, or a scenic view framed by the rails.
Sophie Martin, Community Partnership Manager at TransWilts, explained: “2025 marks 200 years of the modern railway, and the resulting impact on the world. This competition is all about celebrating two centuries of our rail network across Wiltshire; how it brings people together and connects our communities, both now and throughout history.
“We’re looking forward to receiving a wide variety of shots from across the county and from all ages too. We hope people will take this opportunity to get out, explore, and share their unique perspective of rail in Wiltshire. It’s a chance for everyone, from those equipped with just a smartphone and a good eye, to those who regularly snap for pleasure, to be part of a project that puts community at its heart.”
Kington Langley’s TASKL works to preserve and contribute to our artistic heritage by supporting arts in education. The organisation has a long-standing relationship with TransWilts to bring art to the railways, having previously sponsored Art@The Station in Chippenham, as well as working more widely to foster a love for art in the community through working with schools and other local art and youth organisations.
Heather Leach, TASKL Arts Volunteer, added: “We believe that the arts are an important way to make people enjoy life more and celebrate what’s around us. By joining forces with TransWilts on this competition we wanted to find a way to give the most possibilities to the greatest amount of people to celebrate the railways – something that has become part of all of our lives and has such a deep-rooted history and connection with Wiltshire.
“The beauty of photography means that everyone can have a go; whether it’s a spontaneous shot or one that you’ve made a special journey to take and we look forward to seeing the entries coming in from across the county.”
Entries are open exclusively to amateur photographers, and images should be submitted in high resolution, ideally around 3MB, in JPEG, JPG or PNG format. To take part, entrants can visit the TransWilts website at www.transwilts.org and upload their photos directly.
The Arts Society Kington Langley (TASKL) is a centre point for everyone who appreciates the arts in all its forms in the Chippenham area. Meeting monthly in Kington Langley, they welcome expert lecturers to share their specialist knowledge about the widest possible range of visual and performing arts. To find out more about TASKL, visit www.taskl.org.uk.
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