About Shoreline Partners

Sarah Gibbon and Vivienne Rose are the trading partnership Shoreline. We met at Goldsmiths, a leading Arts University in London, and formed strong professional and friendship bonds when working in creative, IT, estates and finance management roles there over three decades.

We had often talked about setting up and running a creative business. Ideas were explored and honed whilst wandering around many galleries and gift shops whilst on seaside holidays over the years, with a group of dynamic and talented female professionals who formed a long-lasting supportive group of friends which continues now that we have all left Goldsmiths.

When we separately moved to Westbrook, we turned our ideas into reality and began looking at premises in Thanet, preparing for a time when neither of us was commuting back to London. Sarah had already set up Margate Made and run the first few events and had established strong creative and learning networks in Thanet. We were approached by the leader of The Eclectic Art Gallery collective, to take on their gallery in Margate’s Old Town, and move it forward, giving it a fresh look and drive. We undertook and enjoyed this challenge enormously, the newly refitted space is now successfully supporting local fine artists, and has expanded to include some new disciplines and talents.

We were still looking for that extra opportunity to open a larger Galleria space and offer affordable exhibiting and selling opportunities to more local talented artists, makers and creatives. In November 2019 we opened the Westgate Galleria at 29 Station Road which has two large, airy, well-lit and inviting spaces exhibiting unique and original art, crafts, homeware, accessories and gifts created by Kent-based Artists and Makers. It also has workshop and meeting hire spaces.

Shoreline runs on a socially responsible business model which enables our artists, makers and creatives to run their small artisan businesses by renting low cost display spaces from us, and pay a small commission for our selling and promotional services. This means they receive the majority of the income made from their sales. It is the home of Margate Made, Westgate Galleria, and the Eclectic Art Gallery, Margate.