Two artists have made striking pieces to highlight the work of those who keep trains moving across the region.

Network Rail's "hidden heroes" will be painted by Wendy Barratt, from Worthing, and Sara Reeve, from Brighton in a live session at one of the country's busiest stations today.

It comes after survey results reveal railway workers are rated lower in public importance compared to other key workers, like teachers or the police.

Wendy at her studioWendy at her studio (Image: Network Rail)

Network Rail, which maintains the country's railway infrastructure, has launched a campaign to challenge the public's perception of railway workers - from crews in orange jackets removing fallen trees to prevent delays, to community safety managers teaching children to make smart decisions around the tracks.

To mark the launch, the company has teamed up with the portrait artists to capture its colleagues on canvas.

Sara with some of her paintingsSara with some of her paintings (Image: Network Rail)

Wendy and Sara Reeve, along with Sky Arts portrait artist of the year Duncan Shoosmith will paint a selection of railway staff -in a live studio in London Waterloo station today.

Wendy Barratt said: “I was really pleased to be asked to be involved in this project and find the idea of painting the portrait of a 'hidden hero' a really interesting concept, especially in these days of celebrity.

"I much prefer the stories behind the scenes, painting portraits of ordinary people who do extraordinary things - or things that we just take for granted but are key to the running of our everyday life.”

The finished portraits will be displayed to the public in 2025 as part of Railway 200 - a year-long programme celebrating 200 years of the modern railway.

Anita Bradfield, a mobile operations manager for Network Rail, is one of the staff members being brought to life on canvas.

Anita said: “I’m really proud to support this campaign. As a mobile operations manager no two shifts are the same. I’m reacting to whatever the day throws at me, from fallen trees on the line, to incidents like vehicles crashing into bridges.

“I love my job, it comes with serious responsibilities and it’s a huge privilege helping to keep passengers safely on the move.”