Pembrey and Burry Port Station Artwork
Project Led By: South West Wales Connected Community Rail Partnership
Project Manager: Eve Sherratt
Timeframe: *** – September 2026 (** months)
The Challenge
Pembrey and Burry Port Railway Station is a unique and much-loved location, set against a stunning coastal backdrop and rich in local heritage. However, there was a huge opportunity to further enhance the station environment, ensuring it reflects both the pride of the community and its role as a welcoming destination for passengers, visitors, and those just passing through on train journeys.
As a regularly used gateway to the coastline and surrounding attractions, the station needed to better celebrate its identity, history, and strong community connections. There was also a desire to create a more vibrant and engaging space that would foster a sense of ownership and help discourage anti-social behaviour.
Our Community Rail Vision
Inspired by the coast, the character of the station, and its deep-rooted heritage, SWWCo developed a vision to transform the space through meaningful, community-led artwork.
The aim was to create a visually striking and inclusive environment that celebrates everything Pembrey and Burry Port has to offer.
In November 2025, an art workshop brought together local schools, individual artists, and members of the wider community to share ideas and inspiration.
This was followed by a series of online shared vision meetings and a dedicated visit to the local secondary school with TFW station management, where students were invited to shape the creative direction of the project and what they thought represented the beautiful place that they are proud to come from.
Common themes quickly emerged from these engagements, including nature, seaside activities, seagulls, the iconic lighthouse, and Welsh emblems. Students also expressed a strong desire to incorporate school identities, railway heritage, and stories of the past, which are reflected in the five modern, graffiti-style panels positioned opposite the two main feature pieces – bringing together a blend of old and new.
A welcoming Welsh quote, translating to “every stop is a new beginning,” reinforces this sense of journey and place. The artwork also captures local industry, tales of the Hatchet Men and the lighthouse, and celebrates community history through figures such as local resident Emyr, who sold the very last Edmondson ticket at Burry Port Station. Emyr kindly visited the art workshop to share his experiences of working on the railway, helping to bring to life the stories of the many staff who once served at the station.
The vision also embraced wider cultural and historical connections, such as links to veterans, Polish airmen, servicemen, and the centenary celebration of Amelia Earhart’s visit. Local heritage figures from the local heritage trail, and celebrities including Glynis Johns, were recognised for their strong ties to the area.
Above all, the community expressed a very clear message: they wanted colour, vibrancy, and something to feel proud of.
Action
Through collaboration and co-production with the artists from ONER, the vision was brought to life in a way that truly reflects the community’s voice.
Artwork concepts were carefully developed to incorporate the themes identified during workshops and school engagement sessions. A vibrant colour palette, including the use of rainbow colours, was chosen to symbolise unity and community spirit – reflecting the way people came together during the pandemic to support carers and one another in difficult times.
The project was delivered with significant support from Transport for Wales, with additional funding provided by GWR. Close partnership working with the artist and designer ONER creations – ensured that all designs were aligned with branding requirements, with Eve Sherratt leading the project as community rail officer for South West Wales connected.
The result is a cohesive and visually engaging artwork that celebrates the station’s coastal setting, heritage, and community identity.
Social Impact
At its core, the project has been about bringing people together and creating a shared sense of pride in the station.
By actively involving young people, schools, artists, and the wider community, the project has fostered meaningful engagement and given participants a genuine sense of ownership over the space. The inclusion of local stories, cultural references, and historical figures ensures the artwork resonates across generations.
The vibrant and welcoming environment also plays an important role in supporting confident travel journeys, helping passengers feel more comfortable and connected to the space.
Financials
Transport for Wales – Majority funding
GWR – Additional funding support
Future Legacy
This project represents a significant and lasting investment in the identity of Pembrey and Burry Port Railway Station.
The artwork will serve as a long-term celebration of the area’s heritage, culture, and community spirit, creating a space that people can feel proud of and connected to. By transforming the visual environment, the project is also expected to help deter anti-social behaviour, encouraging respect and positive use of the station.
Looking ahead, the station stands as a bright, engaging, and welcoming destination – not only for passengers, but for the wider community. It reflects the power of collaboration and creativity, leaving a legacy that will inspire future generations and continue to strengthen community pride.
Interpretation of the Artwork FAQs
Every Stop is a New Beginning
The new artwork at Burry Port Station celebrates the people, stories, heritage and natural landscape that make Burry Port such an amazing, beautiful and very special place along our railway line.
Created by South West Wales Connected and Oner artists through a community-led process, the artwork brings together the past, present and future of Burry Port. Historic figures and local stories sit alongside contemporary graffiti-inspired designs, while bright rainbow colours and images of the coast and local nature reflect the welcoming, diverse and ever-changing close community of Burry Port.
The translation featured in the artwork is:
“Every Stop is a New Beginning.”
The phrase reflects the role of this railway station as a place of arrival, departure, connection and possibility – a place where every journey can begin something new.
Why Pembrey and Burry Port railway station?
Pembrey and Burry Port is just one of the amazing gateways to West Wales.
It is a place where people arrive to explore the coast, the countryside, walks, cycle paths, local communities and the wider region. We have always enjoyed bringing community groups to Burry Port because it is such an accessible and welcoming destination.
The relatively flat terrain makes it particularly suitable for walking and exploring, while the beach, harbour and local attractions provide opportunities for everyone to enjoy the area. It is a wonderful place for community groups, families and people with limited mobility or accessibility needs to spend time together.
The station is therefore more than simply a transport stop. It is a gateway into the community and into the wider landscape and heritage of West Wales.
How was the artwork chosen?
The artwork was developed through extensive engagement with the local community.
We wanted local people – particularly children and young people – to have a genuine voice in deciding what should appear at their station.
We held an art workshop at Crazy Crepes café in November 2025, which was open to members of the public. Local people were invited to share ideas, discuss the history of Pembrey and Burry Port and suggest images and themes they felt represented their community.
We also held online meetings and discussions, allowing people to contribute their ideas in different ways.
As part of the consultation, we visited local schools and spoke with children about what they would like to see in the artwork. The children were encouraged to think about the history, its people, its landscape and what makes the area special today.
The images you see within the final artwork were inspired by ideas and suggestions made during this community engagement and by the children of Pembrey and Burry Port.
What does the artwork represent?
The artwork brings together a mixture of heritage, people, nature and contemporary community life.
The Industrial heritage
Industry is an important part of the heritage of the Burry Port and wider Llanelli area. It recognises the people and traditional industries that have helped shape the identity of the community.
Pembrey and Burry Port Industrial and Maritime Heritage
The Polish Airmen
The artwork remembers the Polish airmen who landed at Burry Port, connecting the station and local area with an important story from the town’s history and its links with the wider world.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart is one of the most famous names associated with Pembrey and Burry Port.
Her historic arrival in the area following her pioneering transatlantic flight is an important part of the town’s story and its place in aviation history. Her inclusion celebrates adventure, courage and the international connections that have passed through this small Welsh community.
Empowering the Legacy of Amelia Earhart
Glynis Johns
The artwork also celebrates Glynis Johns, the internationally recognised Welsh actress who had strong local connections and is buried at a local church.
Her inclusion recognises the creative and cultural heritage associated with Burry Port and the remarkable people who have connections to the town.
The Station’s History
One of the most highlighted subjects was the amount of amazing staff that worked at the station throughout history – one of the personal stories represented in the artwork is that of a former member of station staff Emyr Phillips who sold the last Edmondson ticket at Pembrey and Burry Port Station.
He was interviewed by Transport for Wales and became a particularly popular choice during the school engagement through his story telling.
He came along to speak with the children, sharing memories of the station as it was in years gone by and showing them photographs of its staff and history.
The children were fascinated to hear directly from someone who had worked at the station, and his story became an important part of the artwork.
Why are there rainbow colours?
The rainbow colours have been used as a symbol of community, solidarity, support and inclusion.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, rainbows became a powerful symbol of support for Homes, People and the wonderful work of the NHS and key workers….. and of solidarity within communities coming together across the UK.
We wanted to carry that sense of togetherness into the artwork.
The rainbow colours represent the idea that a community is always made up of many different people, backgrounds, experiences and identities – all coming together as one.
They are intended to make the artwork feel bright, positive, welcoming, inclusive and hopeful.
Why combine heritage with graffiti-style artwork?
Pembrey and Burry Port has a rich history, but it is also a living, changing community.
We wanted the artwork to reflect both sides of that identity.
Traditional imagery and references to local heritage have therefore been combined with a contemporary graffiti-inspired style.
The older stories represent where Burry Port has come from, while the modern artwork represents where the community is going.
It is a meeting of old and new – heritage meets contemporary creativity.
The station itself is also a fitting place for this idea. Trains connect the past with the present and take people towards new destinations and new experiences.
Why include the beach, lighthouse and nature?
Pembrey and Burry Port’s identity is closely connected to its coastline and natural environment.
The lighthouse, beach, sea and local landscape are important visual reminders of what makes Burry Port distinctive.
The natural elements also help connect the station with the experience of arriving in the town – walking or cycling along the coast, enjoying the beach, exploring the harbour and experiencing the surrounding landscape.
The artwork is therefore not only about historical people and events. It is also about place.
Did the children really choose the images?
Yes.
Community engagement, particularly with local schools, was a very important part of the project. Eve Sherratt, our Community rail officer along with Nathaniel Owen Station manager for TFW, visited the local schools and spoke to children and they were asked what they thought should be included and what they felt represented Pembrey and Burry Port.
Their suggestions and designs helped shape the final artwork, meaning that the finished piece is not simply an artwork about the community – it is an artwork that the community helped to create.
Why was community involvement so important?
A railway station is used by many different people. We wanted the artwork to reflect the people who live in Pembrey and Burry Port as well as those who visit.
By involving local residents, community groups, schools and members of the public, we were able to gather a much wider range of stories and ideas.
The process also gave people an opportunity to share memories and discover stories about their own town that they may not have known before.
Who funded the project?
The project was delivered by South West Wales Connected – funded with support from Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales.
Their support made it possible to bring together artists, community groups, schools and local people to create something that celebrates Pembrey and Burry Port.
What do we hope people take from the artwork?
We hope the artwork makes people stop, look and discover something about Pembrey and Burry Port and take great pride in their local Railway station which is at the heart of the town.
Perhaps it will remind a local resident of a story they already know. Perhaps it will encourage a child to ask a question about the town’s history. Or perhaps a visitor arriving by train will see the artwork and immediately understand that they have arrived somewhere with a fascinating story to tell and learn a lot more on their journey through curiosity, sparking new interests and stories.
Most importantly, we hope it feels like Pembrey and Burry Port.
It celebrates the people who came before us, the community we have today and the possibilities that lie ahead.
It’s not just a railway station! – Every Stop, A New Beginning.
A bit about the artist
Founded in 1996, Oner Signs is an independent Welsh sign, design and print studio built on more than three decades of creativity, craftsmanship and street-level experience.
Established by graffiti artist and designer Ron “Oner”, the business grew from a background in graffiti, lettering, music and youth culture into a multidisciplinary creative company working across signage, large-format print, vehicle graphics, hoardings, murals, exhibitions, branding and bespoke production.
Over the years, Oner Signs has worked with everyone from independent businesses, artists and record labels to major organisations, cultural institutions, venues and public-sector clients. Its work can be found across Wales and beyond, from shopfronts and stadium signage to large-scale murals, temporary installations, event graphics and one-off creative projects.
Graffiti and hand-drawn lettering remain central to the company’s identity. Oner has been involved in Welsh graffiti culture since the mid-1980s, and when Oner Signs opened in 1996 it became an important meeting point for the scene as well as one of the earliest places in the UK to make specialist graffiti paint and materials readily available.
That combination of commercial experience and genuine cultural roots continues to shape the business today. Oner Signs approaches every project with the same principle: good design should have personality, purpose and a strong understanding of where it belongs.
Thirty years after opening its doors, Oner Signs remains proudly independent, proudly Welsh and still driven by the same thing that started it all — making things that people notice.