If you are an artist - even a budding one - there is no doubt that the harbour is a great place to set up your easel and paint, draw, crayon whatever works for you, or take some incredible photographs.
With changing seasons, the harbour is always inspiring. Seascapes, harbour views, fishing boats, people watching, the market - so much to capture!
But if you're more interested in collecting art, then this is also the place for you. Whitstable has a great reputation already for its galleries and the wide range of artists in the town but you may not be aware of the incredible range of art in the Harbour Market and South Quay Shed.
So here is a little guide to encourage you to come and gaze at the work of brilliant artists with an eclectic range of styles - we think you'll find it hard to leave without choosing at least one piece to transform a room and encourage the artist in you too.
Sarah Louis Dunn Artist
Sarah specialises in pencil drawings of Whitstable landmarks such as Wheelers Oyster Bar, The Neptune, the beachfronts of Whitstable & Tankerton and also many famous musicians and actors. Selling both original pencil and paint originals and Giclee prints, the prints are in a range of sizes and a wonderful way to remember your visit.
Sarah has been at the Harbour Market for 7 years this year, rain or shine, her art is always full of sunshine and definitely brightens up a grey day, you can find her in Hut no. 22
Echoes of the Sea
Echoes of the Sea features two artists www.charlesborrell.com & www.kerrykristi.com
In Hut no 11, Charles specialises in abstract & contemporary seascapes, as having the Whitstable coast & its famous sunsets to hand means they feature highly in his work. Kerri’s focus is on beachscapes & boats on the shoreline. They have recently produced a great collaboration piece featuring both of their art that is a must see!
Kitchen sponges and palette knives are Charles preferred tools and the used sponges are turned into their own piece of art; they bring the work of an artist to life, showing the range of colours used over a period of time and still reflecting the sea, sunsets and weather. Chat to Charles about when the next projects will be ready.
Mitchell Original Art
David and Mandy are the Mitchells behind this studio at Hut No 16. David’s work is mainly oils and acrylics on canvas of animals, figures, portraits, landscapes and still life. He has been evolving into sculpture, using cold cast bronze and iron as well as stone composites for his sculptures and wall plaques. The sculptures cover a range of subjects: people, myths, animals and sea creatures, and it’s hard to believe that David only recently started sculpting!
Mandy’s work takes you back to that wonderful time of year when all the wild flowers are at their peak in a meadow. The pieces vary between light and dark, so many different shades and colours but you always want to just walk through them. Mandy also takes commissions for her collage work, and you can take a look through her gallery and then discuss your piece with her.
Fore Shore Arts
Jon works in a variety of mediums, painting, lino prints and photographs all inspired by the coast. His lino cuts of the harbour buildings, oysters and the oystermen are evocative of both the past and present. His paintings cover seascapes and the people whose life revolves around the coast. Prints of Jon’s work can also be bought as postcard-size prints from which you could make your own collage of the coast or just send one to someone to raise a smile.
His photographic work is about restoring memories - we highly recommend talking to Jon about it when you see him in Hut no 12!
La Mer
La Mer features is the work of Steve Melrose. Steve’s photographs capture mostly coastal work and are so beautiful that you really want to just stand looking atthem whilst trying not to touch them! Cut off piers, groynes, the sea, islands, beach huts, fisherman’s cottages, sailboats, sunsets and crashing waves - and that’s only a very small selection of Steve’s work.
As well as local photography, his gallery also features Venice, Japan and Iceland among other countries. You can find the very lovely Steve in Hut no 29
Galax Eye
An interactive experience to capture your eyes as art in this amazing studio in Hut no 13. Totally focussed on photographs of the client’s iris and then printed in a variety of forms and as a single eye, a couple's or a whole families.
When you consider the eye you don’t always appreciate the different colours that form them. Each iris is unique and so beautiful and this is where you can really see your iris in full colour!
Art Shed Whitstable
This gallery is in the South Quay shed, on the right as you come through the doors. The beautiful photography displayed is by Sue Carfrae and the abstract art is by Chris Hunter.
Sue has captured wonderful Whitstable landmarks combined with stunning sunsets. The Forts standing stark against the horizon are such a part of the Whitstable Seascape and if you have never seen them close up then, this art will bring them to life. The harbour shots are so colourful and bright, reminding us that this is a working harbour.
We hope this has inspired you to visit the Harbour for your next piece of artwork, whether a postcard, sculpture, painting or print, there will be something here for you.
