Belfast student's prize-winning station art shows ‘lives in transit overlapping'

Belfast Telegraph

25-04-2025

Not only is the 20-year-old a little richer; she's also going to see her work on display at one of Northern Ireland's busiest stations.
It follows a collaboration between Belfast School of Art and Translink to create a unique piece of student art for permanent exhibition at York Street Station — affectionately known as 'The Student's Station' — with Katye-Louise securing the top prize.
'My vision was an oil painting of numerous people reflected against the glass of a train window, as well as people sitting inside the train,' she said.
Her winning work comprises reflections in the window of a train.
'There's a woman sitting in the train and lots of overlapping figures on the glass,' she said.
'It's a reference to transport and travel being the one area where so many people from different walks of life come together and share the same overlapping experience for a particular moment in time.'
Katye-Louise, from the New Lodge area, said the aim of the piece was to encourage public transport and promote sustainable travel, while also capturing the sense of connection that public transport creates — linking lives, stories, and communities across the country.
She said being from the local area helped inspire her.
'The New lodge is just five minutes away from York Street Station,' she said.
'My family and I have used this and previous stations at Yorkgate/York Road often and I remember getting the train a lot in my childhood to go to Portrush or Bangor.
'Being local, and understanding the history of this area and the other areas surrounding York Street Station, I wanted to create a piece that reflects all communities; something everyone can see themselves in.'
Katye-Louise, who works part-time at Belfast's Europa Hotel, said local artist Colin Davidson was a key influence in her creative process. 'Aesthetically, the style is loosely based on Colin Davidson's reflection paintings,' she said.
'I had the opportunity of seeing one of these paintings in person and I was mesmerised by it.'
She also referred to his 'powerful' Silent Testimony exhibition — the stories of 18 people connected by their individual experiences of loss through the Troubles.
'When you walked into the gallery, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife,' she said. 'That's what I want to do with art too. When people look at my work, I want them to feel something. I want it to make a difference.'
Her mum Claire (42), an operations manager, and her recruiter stepdad Nicky (40) are both 'so proud' of her for turning her winning concept into reality.
So too is her baby sister Lailah, who's one year old, and the subject of her ongoing art coursework at university.
Colin Davidson also praised her winning efforts. 'As Chancellor of Ulster University, I am immensely proud that Katye-Louise's work will grace the walls of Belfast's impressive York Street Station,' he said.
The former Belfast Royal Academy pupil said her painting also aims to show that public transport is a great leveller.
'A bus or train can be the only way some people's lives overlap,' she said.
'Even though everyone is always on their own life journey, there are some points in time where people might be going the same way.'
Katye-Louise said she often takes the train to Lurgan to visit her 20-year-old boyfriend, Kacper Szymczak, who's originally from Poland.
She said he has been a source of great encouragement when it comes to her art, so it's perhaps fitting that she'll pass her painting every time she's on her way to see him.
'It'll be crazy to walk past my piece when I'm going through the station,' she said.
'When they announced that I was the winner I couldn't breathe or walk or move. It all felt so surreal.'
Winning the competition came with a professional fee and materials support, reflecting real-world practice. Translink and Ulster University jointly contributed £1,500 to fund the commission.' £800 of it has already been spent on materials for her creation.
Katye-Louise said she'll put the rest into a savings account, while she deliberates over whether to buy new products or go on a well-earned holiday.
'I like the idea of travelling to France and Italy to visit some of the galleries and get more inspiration,' she said.
'Then again, I might just buy some more art supplies.'
Unsurprisingly, her dream job is to be a full-time artist.
Although she was advised to consider doing a business degree, Katye-Louise opted for art instead and she's never looked back.
'You have to do what you love in life,' she said. 'You're only here once.'