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CELEBRATING ALL THINGS ART THIS MONTH, IT’ S ONLY RIGHT THAT WE SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THREE CREATIVE GEMS IN KENT. FROM COMMUNITY-LED CREATIVE HAVENS TO WHIMSICAL SHOPS AND LOCAL ARTISTS, THE COUNTY IS BRIMMING WITH AN ARRAY OF UNIQUE TALENT.
CREEK CREATIVE creek-creative. org creek _ creative
Back in 2006, partners and founding directors Anne Maclean and Simon Giles discussed starting a not-for-profit art studio close to Faversham town. Built within a late-Victorian brewery bottling plant, it was officially named Creek Creative in March 2007, taking three years with the help of volunteers, supporters and sympathetic traders to house the first resident artists. Once a vision and now an established studio, Creek Creative Studios is a prime hub for local artists and artisan makers to create and display their work. The studios are only made possible with skilled volunteers and a supportive community, along with the award- winning Gallery Kitchen Café under the guidance of talented chef Lorraine King. The studio now has 32 affordable and fully occupied rented studios and seven desk spaces, already shared by 45 local creative practitioners and artists ranging from visual artists and silversmiths to writers and filmmakers, and some who just want to escape the rat race. The studio offers the chance to explore your creativity and meet like-minded people, with project spaces, event facilities, workshop days, part-time courses and public art and design exhibitions. Creek continues to give back to its loyal visitors and customer base, with a Membership Scheme and the Town of Culture initiative for Faversham launched in 2025. Alongside Mandy Hare, the new executive director becoming front of house,
Creek Creative continues to thrive with a friendly work environment and strong community spirit.
ON A WHIM onawhimstore. com onawhimmargate
Anna & Will opened On A Whim in November 2024, a whimsical gift shop overlooking the sea in Cliftonville.“ We have been living in Margate since 2020, after briefly living in London and spending the prior five years working and travelling in Australia, New Zealand, South America and Southeast Asia. Opening a shop was an impulsive decision for us, so it seemed fitting to name it On A Whim,” explains Will.“ We had been working together on our jewellery brand, This Story Jewellery, that Anna began in 2018 and which grew so much that I decided to join full-time in 2023. We originally planned to open a jewellery shop, but after meeting so many talented makers through markets, we knew we wanted to offer something broader. Everything we sell is carefully curated. We love supporting and showcasing small independent makers, each one offering things which tell a story and spark a sense of joy. Whether it’ s our ceramics, notebooks, jewellery or cards, every item is united by the love and care that went into making it. We’ re ever-evolving, so we’ re always looking to expand our offering of whimsical gifts and items. One of the unexpected joys of running the shop has been becoming part of Margate’ s incredibly supportive community and the connections that come from in-person events and real-life experiences. We want to build on that with more workshops, including our popular ring-making sessions, and more events in the future that we hope people will love.”
CAROLINE DALY ART www. carolinedaly. art carolinedaly. art
Caroline Daly is a British artist based in Kent. After completing a university degree in Spanish with an element of history of art included, Caroline began her career in law in London following two years of living and working in Madrid. She moved to the High Weald area in 2006, having left legal practice. Caroline began attending art courses in Tunbridge Wells, enjoying the company of other artists and developing her style. After starting her family in 2011, she continued to paint and in 2023 began exhibiting and selling her work, inspired by other artists she had met. She also started taking on commissions. An exciting challenge for Caroline was in 2025 when she was offered a place as a wildcard on Sky Arts programme, Landscape
Artist of the Year, which she says was an incredible day of painting at Dover Castle and a wonderful experience to remember. Caroline is predominantly a sea and landscape painter and is particularly drawn to the coast; her paintings are formed by her emotional response to the scene and, above all, the light and the movement of clouds, shadows, trees and water. Caroline paints mainly in oils and hopes to convey her impression of what she sees and feels when immersed in the moment of creativity. As well as currently having paintings in galleries in Tenterden and Dover, her work will be in a number of upcoming exhibitions this year, notably South East Open Studios( SEOS) in June and
Headcorn Art Show in September.
198 • www. insidekent. co. uk