Sheradon Dublin

Hi, I’m Sheradon. Its lovely to meet you. I am a photographer and graphic designer based here in Westgate-on-Sea.

I have been working as a creative since the early 2000s for a broad range of consumer and commercial clients, before relocating from London to Westgate with my family in 2015.

Since moving to Kent, I have been lucky enough to work with many local businesses such as The Turner Contemporary, Dreamland Margate and the Margate Mercury to name a few. I do love this part of Kent, as there is so much inspiration as all around, and I have created a range of original artworks and greetings cards to document this.

I photograph places that stand out to me, whether they are opens spaces of empty beaches or iconic landmarks of the local area. These are then recreated as Pop-Art inspired illustrations.

Serena Salvatore

Hi, my name is Serena, I am an Italian “ABSTRACT, FIGURATIVE” artist based in Margate.

Since my childhood I felt my artistic talent but only in 2005 I put it into practice, and never stopped. I love to paint with oil and acrylic, but my creativity brings me to explore new techniques, increasingly popular in the world of art. My art is abstract-figurative, I love reproducing landscapes, still life, seascapes and describe everyday life. Since I moved to Margate I have been blessed with its stunning scenery and spectacular sunsets which inspire me profoundly. I also love photography therefore I photograph and reproduce landscapes and still life from pictures taken from me. I work from home when I get spare time.

My motto is: “I DREAM MY PAINTING AND I PAINT MY DREAM”

Sarah Wyld

I’ve been a photographer since the 1970s and also ran workshops in the community, taught within Adult Education, for an NHS mental health trust, and independently. Having used a darkroom for years I still mainly do my own printing – now digital.

A few years ago I moved from London to Westgate-on-Sea. Different opportunities have opened up, for instance through POW!Thanet, including a collaboration with East Kent Mencap, ‘See Me & Hear My Voice’, and an exhibition ‘Life Lit Up’ in Cliftonville’s 101 Club – not to mention the Galleria opening in my home town.

I enjoy photographing anything that takes my fancy - from Bob Dylan, to a mouldy lemon on my kitchen table - with anything I have at hand, including my phone. The more I photograph, the more I find there is to photograph. There is always so much to see, interpret, record, and enjoy.

When Covid allows, look out for two shows of mine on Shoreline's guest walls - 'It's Only Rock & Roll but I Like it' and 'Power to the Peaceful - Altered Surfaces'.

 

Sarah Bowles

I was so fed up buying clothes that didn’t fit properly that I decided to learn how to make as much of my own clothing as possible. Mostly through trial and error (and a whole lot of mistakes!) I learnt how to make all my own clothing. I now make everything I wear as well as anything else that can be sewn!

Without a doubt, I am at my happiest when I am at my sewing machine making something new and exciting. Sewing is my form of therapy and meditation. With the added bonus that I get something to wear at the end!

I love experimenting with new and different patterns and fabrics, especially natural fabrics. While searching for sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics, I found the wonder that is cork. It is incredibly versatile and I love making new designs.

Cork is a wonderful textile to work with and makes beautiful bags and accessories that will last for many years. My unique range of cork items are all lovingly handmade at my home in Westgate-on-Sea.

Rebecca Thomas

Hi. I’m Becky, nice to meet you.

I am a graphic designer and illustrator based in Westgate-on-Sea.

I work for a range of clients, designing logos, brochures and websites. I managed a large London design team for 15 years until I escaped to Thanet in 2018 with my partner and baby daughter. I’d been longing to be near the sea for quite some time.

The first thing I did on arrival was to illustrate some of the fantastic local buildings and beach scenes. That became the Westgate-on-Sea Calendar, which sold out within weeks. I now sell prints, cards, magnets and a new calendar for each year as well as adding children’s prints to the shop.

I photograph places that interest me. I then recreate them on the computer. All of the paper I use is archival quality and FSC rated. My studio is beneath Westgate Galleria.

The illustration is my escape from the big complex day jobs. It’s the work I create when I get spare time, and it’s work that celebrates my love for where I live.

Pat Matthews

My name is Pat. I’m an artist and crafter living and working in Herne Bay.

I moved to the Kent coast about 18 months ago (August 2018) from South London. I studied at Epsom school of Art & Design, way back in the eighties and subsequently worked as a window dresser, layout artist and, most recently in school breakfast & after school clubs, guiding art & craft activities for children (amongst other things!).

On the side, I was making hand-painted fabric goods: Tote bags, cushion covers, lavender bags. Since moving, I have been building this up as a business.

My pieces are usually made from cotton calico, which I tie dye, using cold water dyes, before painting the design with acrylic fabric paint. For bags, cushion covers etc, I would dye the finished item before painting. For smaller items (lavender bags etc) I would dye a piece of fabric before cutting out the shapes & sewing. The larger pieces are machine sewn, whilst the small items are sewn by hand. After painting, the design is sealed by ironing and trims and beading are sewn on by hand.

Melanie Tong

I use my own photographs of the East Kent Coastline as the starting point for my paintings. I work mostly with acrylics, but I have recently been adding ink and collage elements too. The layers produce a range of colours, found in the natural seascapes, that reveal themselves through the final surface.

The paintings show an abstracted view from the photographs, occasionally including recognisable landmarks or forms of particular areas, but focussing on the forms that the tides and the coastal features create.

Lorraine Kinnear

I am an Artist and Photographer living in the local area. I consider myself lucky to live in this beautiful part of the country, surrounded by a rich and diverse coastline with amazing sunsets and an abundance of natural woodland. They provide endless photographic opportunities as my artwork is very much inspired by nature and the area in which I live.

Although nature is at the heart of my photography, my photographic style is quite abstract. I like to take a shot and then use various techniques to manipulate and enhance the image; I particularly enjoy the editing stage as it allows me to be really creative. The image often undergoes a substantial transformation, although still retains elements of the original photograph.

I also like to draw attention to familiar aspects of our environment, which at first glance may seem quite ordinary. However, they often possess a natural charm and beauty. I like to highlight these qualities in my photographs and show the subject from a different perspective.

My photographs are printed on Hahnemuhle Photo Lustre Paper (260gsm). They are Giclee printed with Archival Inks (guaranteed to be fade resistant for 100+ years).

Libby Cox

Hi, my name is Libby Cox, I’m a local artist and retired teacher. I work from home in Birchington.

I was a teacher for many years at the local Primary school in Westgate. Since retiring I have juggled my time between, my wonderful family, grandchildren and my love of creating artwork. I have always painted and drawn, in some form or other, throughout my teaching career, having studied Fine Art whilst at Teachers Training College in London.

I paint and draw a range of subjects from animals for children, life drawings, abstract work to local iconic buildings. I enjoy exploring different techniques using different mediums and whilst working on these pieces of artwork I developed a technique unique to myself, as far as I’m aware. These are the prints that I’m known for.

I create my work from drawings I make, be they studio sketches or from photos I have taken. Much of my work is mixed media. I use inks, watercolour and collage to create the images. My work is not digital enhanced at all but all my original work is professionally printed on 270g Matte Art paper. All are open prints which are signed on the front and numbered on the back.

Jo Weeks

My Millinery journey began when I was 4! My Grandmother was a Milliner and taught me the art of making hats and headpieces in my younger years. Although nowadays the fabric choice for most occasion hats is sinamay, the techniques for hat making has not changed so much.

I make hats and headpieces for occasions such as weddings, parties, christenings and also horse racing events such as Royal Ascot. These pieces can be one-off designs or can be made bespoke to match any particular outfit.

With the popularity of headbands, I have also created a selection that can be worn in daytime and for less formal events.

Jill Young

My name is Jill Young. My grandchildren call me mad nanny!

My work is eclectic, quirky, one off using many and varied recycled materials where possible.

As a self- taught artist/maker my work is varied, individual and one-off. From a young age I re-invented clothes to make them different, to fit my small, short frame and achieve the quirky style I craved. In latter years I have been very lucky to have the opportunity to create and deliver art projects and workshops for adults with a learning disabilities. Indulging in a vast array of techniques, materials, environment and group work to encourage folk to achieve their full potential in creative ability, culminating in exhibitions and sales of work in various art galleries. I have personally also held exhibitions alone and in a group, showing a variety of work made from recycled materials to promote awareness of how we are affecting our environment.

In my retirement I tend to create work in the form of wildlife in 2D wall hung form and 3D using a variety of wool using the dry felting technique. I also continue to love making quirky one-off clothing using many and varied materials and clothes to promoting the recycled ethos I have always endeavoured to follow.

Jessica Newby

Hi, I started making jewellery a few years ago after taking a short silversmithing course and discovered a real passion for creating bespoke jewellery. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted in my garden studio in Ramsgate.

The silver seashells are all moulded from real shells that I have found on local Thanet beaches then cast in fine silver clay. The sea glass used in my designs is all genuine UK sea glass. This beautifully patinated glass has been aged in the sea for a minimum of 60 years and then hand collected by me or my keen beach combing friends and family.

The majority of my silver comes from recycled sources and I recycle any offcuts and lemel left over from production too - waste not, want not! I use recycled and FSC approved packaging and am trying to eliminate the use of plastics and other unsustainable materials in my business.

I also create sterling silver and sea glass stitch markers, as I am a keen knitter and love using handmade notions when creating a handmade garment.

I work with another independent local business to create my Coast candle, which uses a scent created especially for me. We worked for weeks to get it perfect and to smell exactly like a fresh coastal breeze!

I have created a range of jewellery from which I donate 10% to a local not for profit organisation - Dane Valley Woods (a community woodland on a former landfill site). This range is all about trees and leaves to reflect the work of the organisation.

Sea Worn Jewellery

Janis Volckman

I have been working with clay for some 30 years and I now work from my Oast house just outside Canterbury.

Sometimes pieces are thrown on the wheel and sometimes they are hand built, or a combination of the two. I’d describe my work as rustic, colourful, quirky, contemporary and playful.

Jan Cooper

Jan is an artist based in Sandwich, Kent, UK.  She studied graphics at Canterbury Art College, then went on to creating handmade 3D greetings cards. This inspired her to move onto making jewellery, which she does with various textiles. She loves to use gold, velvet and mixing fabrics with textured and rigid materials. Jan’s passion for icons has led her to develop a range of brooches and cards featuring artist Frida Kahlo. Her personal and professional development has derived from her love of fashion, which can be seen in each of her designs.

Dee Nolan

Hi, I am Dee.

I have a husband of 30+ years and a grown-up family who now have their own families! Despite moving away and working abroad, I have always found myself drawn back to the seaside towns of Thanet, it’s where I find my inspiration. Having done many different things to get by when raising our family, I am fortunate to now be at a stage where I can do what I love and that is sewing.

I make and embroider a vast array of different things from gifts for children to home furnishings, anything I make can usually be personalised and adapted.

Having a lifelong interest in the arts and crafts, sewing and stitch craft in particular, in 2017 I decided to develop my skills further when I became fascinated by the embroidery technology available, so I set about making and personalising useful and decorative fabric items and a business developed from there!

I love my work although it can be very labour intensive and it requires a lot of patience, but let me tell you there is no better feeling than producing that bespoke gift for the recipient, often to become a treasured family heirloom.

Dee Newton

I live in Birchington with my husband, two sons and two dogs. I just love to create beautiful things, be it watercolours, acrylics, hand-painted jewellery or vintage jewellery mosaics. Living here by our wonderful coastline inspires my artwork and I try to capture the iconic structures and coastline of Margate in a loose semi-abstract style.

Christine Kolinsky

Knitwear, knitwear and more knitwear. Based in Westgate-on-Sea, I produce beautifully designed knitwear with a difference.

For most of my life I have been involved in the creative arts and I have City & Guilds certificates in embroidery and dressmaking along with NVQ certificates in sewing.

My passion now is in creative knitwear that involves designing gloves, hats, knitted jewellery, designer handbags, novelty festive decorations etc. Not ordinary in any way, my gloves for example, are unique in their pattern, colour and design and their unusual nature makes them attractive to many customers. I am often praised by their originality and this is what drives me forward.

For me this is a hobby that I find relaxing and enjoyable and for this reason I like to make my products affordable so that other people can enjoy them too. My knitwear can make ideal presents so why not buy these in advance to give for birthdays and other occasions towards the end of the year as the weather turns cold?

Carol M Creasey

My name is Carol, and I am a Kent author. My first book published in 1993, was inspired by my son who was born with many difficulties including autism. Since then I have written 6 novels, and my autobiography CANDIDLY CAROL, which was published on 3rd April. I live with my partner Keith, cats Max and Mia, and dog Ben. I enjoy long walks, swimming, and playing badminton and tennis as well as my writing. I try to write something every day, it makes me feel complete as a person.

I have been an author since 1993, it was not intended, but sometimes our lives lead us on a different path. My son Philp was born in 1971, and right from a very early age, he had many difficulties including autism. Nobody knew much about autism then, and none of the doctors we visited could give us a prognosis, so we literally took each day as it came, and tried to deal with whatever life threw at us in our efforts to help him.

When he reached 21 in 1993, I was not only incredibly proud of his battle to survive, I also realised our experiences might help other families. So I wrote it all out by hand and sent it to Mencap, expecting them to put it in their magazine. They did better than that, they introduced me to my publisher, as they felt there were not enough books about the subject.

I am delighted to say that all hardback copies have been sold, and owing to its popularity, my publisher has reprinted it in paperback, and it's also available on kindle.

This spurred me on to write six more novels, and I have now completed my autobiography, but without the inspiration of my son's journey, this would never have happened.

Beverley Fisher

Designer by day, Artist by night!

I've been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember and have a passion for anything creative.

Growing up in Canterbury I always knew I wanted to work in a creative field. I started my career as a textile designer and quickly moved to the greeting card industry where I now work as a Creative Director, a job I love.

Studio life is fast paced with a constant flow of deadlines and an ever-expanding portfolio. Over the years I have spent less time designing and more time managing, so working on my own projects have become an important part of life. I try and exhibit my original artwork at least once a year at various galleries and I have recently worked on a couple of Wild in Art projects, the first one being Ashford Snowdogs and the next one, coming soon... Hares of Southend.

Art is a passion for me, from working with and helping my team of freelancers to working on my own projects.

I love painting and drawing wildlife with its varied texture and beautiful colours, capturing a quirky face or a peculiar pose. Once happy with my finished painting/drawing, my work is scanned to the highest standard. I then choose products with beautiful quality and printers who can reproduce the image to an exceptional standard.

All of my prints are limited edition Giclee Prints, limited to 100 editions, hand signed and come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Ann Palmer

Ann has lived in Rochester, Kent, UK for 30 years. She spent 40 years working in the NHS as a Public Health doctor and began drawing and painting in 2007. Ann still draws mainly townscapes and sketches in preparation for her paintings. She works in oils principally land, sky and seascapes, often working directly out doors in front of the scene. Recently her work has developed to become larger, more abstract and expressionistic. Ann’s paintings are now often developed in the studio from her experiences en plein air, sketches and photographs, gaining inspiration from her travels in France and to the coasts of Cornwall and Normandy as well as her home county of Kent.

Ann developed her reputation as a plein air painter; working in the vineyards of the Loire Valley and around the Kent Coast where until 2017 she worked out of a beach hut in Whitstable. Ann has been painting in Whitstable for some 5 years, standing on the pebbly beach watching the tide ebb and flow, the morning mist across the Swale, the light on the horizon, the clouds coming in from the west over London, and the light out to sea to the north and east. The low tide exposes sandbanks, pebbles, seafood for the gulls to seek.

Ann now has a studio at the Nucleus Arts Centre in Rochester where she exhibits in the Halpern Gallery in Chatham and the Halpern Pop in Rochester; she also works from home painting in her conservatory and using her Attic Studio for preparing canvases and framing and storing her work. Currently Ann is working on a series of shoreline, sea and skyscape paintings around the Kent Coast and Cornwall.

Ann builds her own canvases using stretcher bars and 12oz cotton duck which she primes with 2-3 coats of acrylic primer and/or gesso. She usually coats the prepared canvas with turpsy red oil paint, often Indian red, sometimes Burnt Siena. When this is dry she lays out the scene with a thin coat of oil paints then building on this, firstly using a brush, then thick oil paint applied with a palette knife. The extent to which the painting is built with more impasto depends on the scene and mood. Ann’s style is impressionistic, representative tending towards some abstraction and expressionism.

Ann has been working on a series of paintings called Shoreline. This series depicts the beaches of Whitstable on the north coast of Kent and in Cornwall, at various times of day and year, state of the tide and weathers inspired by Ann’s experience painting on the beach. The series has been the subject of solo exhibitions in Ramsgate and Rochester.

Ann’s work is in collections across the UK and the US; she is represented by PAKS Gallery in Austria, Michael Joseph in Miami, Gabriel Fine Arts in London, Rossocinabro Gallery in Rome and in COLORIDA GALERIA DE ARTE in Lisbon. Ann also exhibits at Art Fairs, notably Roy’s Art Fair, the Parallax Art Fair, Talented Art Fair and East Sussex Art Fair. She also has a travelling exhibition of 10 large seascapes in oil with Little Van Gogh (www.littlevangogh.co.uk).