AN exhibition of artwork depicting railways past and present has been launched at a national museum.

The Rail Art 2007 exhibition by the Guild of Railway Artists will be on display at Locomotion: the National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, until September 30.

There are more than 70 works on display in several mediums, including oils, acrylics and watercolours, pen and ink, pencil, pastel, crayon, gouache and computer graphics.

Entry to the exhibition is free and most of the work on display is for sale.

The annual Picture of the Year competition will also take place, in which visitors can vote for the best picture.

Museum board chairwoman Councillor Barbara Graham said: "In August 2005, we launched Locomotion's cultural programme with Rail Art 2005, and I am delighted that the Guild of Railway Artists has returned to the museum with this inspiring collection."

She thanked the friends of the museum and Sedgefield Borough Council's arts development department for their support.

More than 80 people attended the launch, including Frank Hodges, the chief executive officer of the Guild of Railway Artists, and Sedgefield borough mayor Sarah Iveson.

Coun Iveson said: "The quality of the artwork was excellent, and the themes depicted were unusual and made you think about railways in a new way. It was a very enjoyable exhibition."

Entry to the museum is free and it is open from 10am to 5pm daily. The museum can be contacted on 01388-777999.