Maybe a childhood spent in Birmingham in the 1950's surrounded by the sights and sounds of railway trains, is responsible for Philip's enduring passion for all things railway.
After graduating from Birmingham College of Art, Philip was employed in the railway industry as a technical illustrator and later as a press photographer and freelance illustrator. Finally, he took the plunge and turned to the world of fine art.
Prestigious commissions from major companies are proof of his abilities, with Philip D Hawkins artwork appearing in magazines, advertising campaigns, fine art prints etc... the list is seemingly endless.
Philip, a founder member of the Guild of Railway Artists back in the 1970's, was its President from 1988 until 1998.
Battle At Brickyard Crossing
British Railways Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 freight locomotive No.92137 from Saltley shed gets to grips with a southbound coal train passing beneath the Birmingham New Street to London Euston main line and over Brickyard Crossing, Birmingham on the steep gradient up to Camp Hill (circa 1960).
Freight trains taking the route to Lifford Junction to gain the Bristol main line would usually require banking assistance along this stretch to surmount the 1 in 85, easing to 1 in 280 gradient, before reaching the summit at Kings Heath.
Clear Road Through Retford
London, North Eastern Railway class C1 Atlantic No.4444 roars along the East Coast main line approaching Retford station, Nottinghamshire with a Leeds to Kings Cross express during mid 1930s. She was one of a class of 94 locomotives designed by H. A. Ivatt for the Great Northern Railway. The first engine was built at Doncaster in 1902 with No.4444 (as No.1444) emerging in October 1908 and withdrawn from service by the LNER in October 1945. One of these fine locomotives, GNR No.251, is preserved as part of the National Collection.
Cock O' The North
Gresley's magnificent P2 class 2-8-2 No.2001 'Cock O' The North' passing Wood Green (North London) on a lengthy 'up' train during its running-in period on the LNER main line in 1934.
Designed for the severe Edinburgh-Aberdeen route, this locomotive and its five sisters were later rebuilt by Edward Thompson into Pacifics during the 1940s.
Express Freight East Coast Style
The 'Scotch Goods' winds out of Kings Cross goods yard in the charge of 'Top Shed' A4 Pacific No.60032 'Gannet' as an A1 Pacific No.60136 'Alcazar' heads north shortly after leaving Kings Cross station c1960.
Into The Night
The sound, the fury, the excitement and that intoxicating aroma of steam are beautifully evoked in this painting by Philip D Hawkins of a Bulleid 'Battle Of Britain' class Pacific number 34051 'Winston Churchill' roaring along the LSWR mainline through Basingstoke heading an express for London, Waterloo.
The Midlander
Stanier Jubliee class No. 45688 'Polyphemus' entering Birmingham New Street station in 1956.
Built as LMS No 5688 at Crewe works in February 1936, No. 45688 remained in service until December 1962 when it was withdrawn from Kingmoor shed, Carlisle to be scrapped in 1963 at Crewe.
Morning Rush
A Waterloo bound express heads into the sunrise disturbing the early morning calm at Basingstoke in the capable hands of rebuilt Bulleid 'West Country' Pacific No.34016 'Bodmin'. This engine was one of several Southern Region Pacifics rescued from Barry scrapyard and has since been a regular performer on the Mid-Hants Railway.
Roaring Through Retford
A1 Pacific No.60156 'Great Central' roaring through Retford in charge of the up 'Queen of Scots' Pullman train during the late 1950s.
Some Things Never Change
Sporting the classic 'knotted handkerchief' to deflect the rays of the summer sun in time-honoured fashion a contented holidaymaker slumbers peacefully in his deckchair on the beach at Coryton Cove, Dawlish, Devon as an HST 125 exits Kennaway tunnel and heads west with a train from Paddington during the summer of 1989.
Summer Saturday At Snow Hill
Birmingham Snow Hill station in 1959 when holiday makers would travel in their thousands by train to enjoy their annual break by the seaside. The Cornishman is headed by Castle class 4-6-0 No.5070 `Sir Daniel Gooch` and arrives to a packed platform 7.
2-6-2 Prairie tank No.4175 arrives in platform 5 with a northbound local train.
The Great Western Railway`s Snow Hill station's main line services ended in 1967 with local DMU train services slowly being cut until the last single railcar left for Wolverhampton Low Level station in 1972.
Summit Meeting
The famous Lickey bank which climbed for two miles from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire to Blackwell at a gradient of 1 in 37 was the steepest stretch of main line in the country. Here, at the summit, a 'Crab' 2-6-0 No.42790 waits with a southbound freight as a 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 No.45699 'Galatea' battles against the gradient with a northbound train.
Sunday Diversion
West Coast main line trains were often diverted through Coventry and Birmingham on Sundays offering local railway enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the sight and sound of Stanier Pacifics without travelling too far from home. On this occasion 'Princess Coronation' Pacific No.46240 'City Of Coventry' is in charge of the northbound 'Royal Scot' approaching Coventry station in the mid 1950s. In July 1958 No.46240 emerged from a heavy general overhaul at Crewe Works in red livery, one of sixteen 'Princess Coronations' thus adorned.
Wolverhampton Rendezvous
An ex-Great Western Railway 'Castle' class 4-6-0 No.5045 'Earl of Dudley' rests awhile during the short trip between the coaling plant and engine sheds at Wolverhampton Stafford Road as its crew and other onlookers enjoy the performance on the Birmingham Canal below.
In the background a Super D 0-8-0 No.49246 from Bescot engine sheds heads towards High Level station to take up it’s next duty. C1958.
The Yorkshire Pullman
The Yorkshire Pullman (Bradford and Leeds to London Kings Cross) leaves Leeds Central station behind Peppercorn A1 pacific No. 60131 'Osprey' in 1960.
