Description

St Chad’s Underpass captures a dramatic slice of Birmingham at dusk. A framed scene beneath the railway tracks leading into Snow Hill Station. I looked down into the underpass as cars hurtled toward me and disappeared beneath. Meanwhile, the slick, wet road shimmered in pale blue, glowing under the evening lights.

The turquoise fascia at the tunnel edge became a glowing feature, illuminated by the streetlights above. At the same time, a distant bus and streams of traffic emerged briefly into the light. They then vanished once more into the gloom of another tunnel. The constant rhythm of appearing and disappearing fascinated me. It gave the painting its pulse.

Inspiration for St Chad’s Underpass

To capture this moment, I stood on a precariously slippery strip of rubber in the rain, leaning over the edge of the underpass as traffic roared below. Above me, a train thundered across the tracks, adding to the noise and drama.

The sheer energy of the cars, the roar of engines, and the glow of the wet road filled me with excitement. As a result, this painting became about momentum, light, and the heart of the city moving at speed.

Techniques and Media Used

I worked on a smooth board rather than canvas. I wanted to achieve detail without the interference of texture. First, I focused on capturing the exact turquoise of the fascia and the shifting colour of the wet road at twilight. Then, I worked to balance the sense of scale. I placed traffic both close-up and distant to give depth and movement.

Finally, I avoided hyperrealism, preferring instead to convey the essence of the moment — energy without unnecessary detail, atmosphere rather than precision.

• Title: St Chad’s Underpass
• Artist: Julie Swinsco
• Medium: Oil on board
• Frame: Black wooden tray frame
• Size (including frame): 50 × 36 cm
• Authenticity: Hand-signed, Certificate of Authenticity included

This original Birmingham cityscape oil painting celebrates the atmosphere of twilight, the dynamism of traffic, and the unique rhythm of Birmingham’s underpasses.