A renowned artist has "adopted" a railway station in Fife.
Flower painter Kirsty Lorenz is working to breathe new life into the former ‘First Aid’ rooms of Ladybank.
She's signed up to decorate the terminal as part of Scotrail’s Adopt A Station scheme, which is designed to put stations at the heart of communities.
Ms Lorenz has transformed the rooms in the A-listed Victorian building into an artist’s studio, where she will create her new paintings, run art workshops and hold occasional exhibitions.
Ms Lorenz said: “I am thrilled to have the chance to work in this unique location. It is wonderful to think that a building that has been boarded up and unused for so many years now has a new purpose.
“The studio space is full of character, light and airy – perfect conditions for me to work on my flower portraits. I hope that regular users of the station will enjoy watching me at work in the coming months and years.”
Ms Lorenz's realistic oil paintings of flowers and plants sell for hundreds of pounds each and are regularly displayed in galleries across Scotland.
But the new scheme will bring her work to a new audience, and offer commuters the opportunity to view her collection being shaped on a day to day basis.
John Yellowlees from First Scotrail’s said: "I am delighted that Kirsty has joined the many individuals and groups who are making a real difference to enhancing the appearance of stations and bringing redundant premises back into use.
“More than 60 trains stop at Ladybank station every day, so hundreds of our customers will be able to enjoy Kirsty’s paintings.”
Jim Cornell, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, added: “I am very pleased that the Trust has been able to work with Kirsty and First Scotrail in regenerating part of this historic railway building.
“Conservation through regeneration is one of the Trust’s key aims and this particular project complements the efforts made by the station staff at Ladybank in sustaining this listed building for the benefit of present and future generations.”
Ms Lorenz will officially open her new studio this weekend, when members of the public can view the transformed rooms, meet the artist and see her work.
Find out more about the artist and the project
