A host of artists and poets have let their imaginations run riot and the varied results will be unveiled in an exhibition.

Drawing inspiration from firefighters and the fire service, 23 artists have created a huge variety of works including poems, sculptures, paintings and monoprints for an exhibition that opens at the Old Fire Station in Carlisle city centre tonight. (FRI)

The exhibition, entitled White Watch, celebrates the history of the Old Fire Station and its new exhibition space. It is named after one of the four shifts – green, red, blue and white watches – that firefighters work.

Artist Derek Eland, who is involved with the exhibition, said: “We didn’t want to do an art show for artists. This is about engaging with the communities. And having the fire service involved, back at the Old Fire Station, has a wonderful resonance to it.”

Some of the work that will be displayed includes a sculpture of Icarus’ wings by school leaver Jed Buttress, a portrait of former firefighter Raymond Pearson by his son Ollie Pearson, and a painting of the inside of the bar of the Old Fire Station by Ceri Allen – which was still drying as the exhibition was being set out.

While it celebrates the history of the Old Fire Station, the exhibition also shines a spotlight on firefighters and the tough work that they do.

Some artists and writers explored the precarious and vulnerable position firefighters are often put in.

Poet Tim Coburn spent time with firefighters on the white watch in Carlisle and listened to many of their stories for his poem, Fire Fighter .

The poem has had a great reception so far, with one firefighter telling Mr Coburn that as he listened he was seeing flashbacks of incidents in his mind.

Another poem at the exhibition was written by watch manager Paul Dean, whose poem reflects his thoughts, experiences, feelings and knowledge of being a serving firefighter.

All the 40 pieces of work displayed in the exhibition were curated by the newly formed Carlisle Young Curators group.

It is the first time the six artists have put together an exhibition, which is open today (FRI) from 6pm until 9pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am until 6pm.

Alexander Frowen, of the curating group, said of the exhibition: “It’s fantastic. There’s a great range of works by people of all different backgrounds.”