A major feature at Handforth Station is the variety of artwork on display.
In particular, two old bicycle lockers were repurposed in the early 2000s to provide a home for short-lived and varied artworks. The artworks have to withstand the cold and damp conditions inside these lockers, particularly in winter. They are changed several times a year, and each installation lasts at least one month.
This page illustrates some of the Art In a Box installations, as well as a selection of the other artwork at the station.
This screen is made of burnished aluminium, into which the intricate designs have been cut. Gaps and spaces and lines are cut out and the backing board of bright red is allowed to show through, creating a stunning effect.
This screen was designed by Handforth Youth Club and the artist Chris Waygood, and mounted in early 2000 to commemorate the Millennium.
This screen is made of burnished aluminium, into which the intricate designs have been cut. Gaps and spaces and lines are cut out and the backing board of bright red is allowed to show through, creating a stunning effect.
This screen was designed by artist Paul Pickford, after consultation and workshops with local schools and elements of the local community. It was mounted and unveiled in November 2021 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Friends of Handforth Station by Mike Bishop (current President) and others.
Christmas 2017's Art in A Box: Wilmslow Academy Art Club's ceramic pieces illustrating 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'
Christmas 2017's Art in A Box: Wilmslow Academy Art Club's ceramic pieces illustrating 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'
The Art In A Box display for Christmas 2017 - provided by the Wilmslow Academy Art Club led by Helen Wright.
This religious display graced the Art In A Box lockers in December 2016
Wilmslow Grange Year 1 Pupils show their Artwork for the station at the end of July 2008. Most of these were displayed inside the Ticket Office.
Wilmslow Grange School Artwork in 2008 - presented by them to Northern Rail and Rob Sawyer of FoHS
Wilmslow Grange Nursery School Artwork July 2008 presented to Network Rail
Two specific flags were commissioned by the Friends of Handforth Station. On the left is the "modern art" flag, referred to (inaccurately !) as "The Modrian Flag". On the right is the first of FoHS's flags showing the Honford Star.
Article in The Cheshire Independent, January 2013
Christine Baker-Wilcox and her husband installing her artwork ("Reflections 2") into the Art In a Box lockers in November 2018.
Children were invited to paint a rock (large pebble), which were then displayed for several weeks in Handforth Library
For most of Winter 2020, in the middle of "second lockdown" due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the installation in Art In a Box featured aquaria - foil and plastic fish swam in an eerie undersea setting.
For most of Winter 2020, in the middle of "second lockdown" due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Art In a Box installation featured these fish (which started life as plastic bottles) swimming in an eerie undersea setting.
Reflections 2. An installation by Christine Baker-Wilcox in November 2018 to illustrate peace and commemorate Britain's centenary of the end of "The Great War". This shows the right-hand box. Look carefully, and you should be able to see that those apparent windows or mirrors are actually silhouettes of soldiers made of a mirrored material.
Reflections 2. An installation by Christine Baker-Wilcox in November 2018 to illustrate peace and commemorate Britain's centenary of the end of "The Great War". This shows the left-hand box. Look carefully, and you should be able to see that those apparent windows or mirrors are actually silhouettes of soldiers made of a mirrored material.
Reflections 2. An installation by Christine Baker-Wilcox in November 2018 to illustrate peace and commemorate Britain's centenary of the end of "The Great War". You can clearly see the silhouettes of soldiers made of a mirrored material.