A full time coal miner and a part time artist.
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Shane Monaghan recently won the Steam Art Prize at the Gang Gang Gallery Zig Zag Exhibition.
The gallery was a celebration of the first steam train to pass through the Great Zig Zag Railway and arrive in Bowenfels.
Artist's from around NSW entered artworks exploring the theme of the Great Zig Zag Railway through their favourite medium, with a prize of $1500 being awarded to Mr Monaghan for the most outstanding entry.
Mr Monaghan entered a large landscape drawing called "The Construction", which depicts the iconic Zig Zag Railway.
"I entered a large landscape drawing depicting the many stone viaducts that carried trains up and down the Lithgow Valley.
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"It represents the engineering, craftsmanship, skill and determination required to build the Zig Zag Railway 150 years ago," he said.
He said the artwork took around seven months to create and he used charcoal and pastels on Arches Paper.
"It required many visits to the area to gather information, photos and inspiration," he said,
Mr Monaghan has been drawing for the past three years under the guidance of local art teacher David Newman-White at Karingal Art Studio, and said he was surprised to win first prize.
"I was surprised at first because there were many great entries but I was very very excited to be announced the winner of the Steam Art Prize," he said.
He said he liked the sense of achievement he got when he finished an artwork.
"I like a challenge and I also love to see people's reaction to what I have created," he said.
Mr Monaghan wanted to thank the sponsors of the art prize and the Gang Gang Gallery for hosting the exhibition and providing a great venue for artists to display their work.
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