John Austin, for 16 of the past 17 years, has been the winner the Picture of the Year,presented by the Guild of Railway Artists in Great Britain. His work, always of steam trains portrayed with technical excellence, is distinctive for its intense passion and atmosphere, with a combination of eye-catching light (often lots of steam and sparks, and plenty of night scenes), spectacular landscape (sometimes the train is set quite small in the scenery) and turbulent weather (lots of storms and, with the coastal settings in which he specializes, wild seas). His work has become highly sought-after as well as valuable. A member of the Guild of Railway Artists, John Austin brings the power and drama of the railway to life. John Austin's life revolves around his two loves: art and the railways. Following a successful career as a professional lighting designer, Austin was truly able to focus on his art. Light designing still serves as a major influence on Austin's work: "Light is the most important ingredient in any picture." With paintings that are brimming with movement and life, it comes as no surprise that the paintings and prints of John Austin are constantly sought after.