DAYSOUT
THE KENT CREATOR TRAIL
WHILE THE LONGER DAYS CONTINUE TO DRAW OUT, WARMER MONTHS INVITE YOU TO TAKE A STEP BACK, DETACH YOURSELF FROM DIGITAL LIFE AND HARNESS YOUR CREATIVE INSTINCTS. DURING THIS TIME, KENT BECOMES A VIBRANT PRESENCE FOR ARTISTS, MAKERS AND CREATORS BOTH NEAR AND FAR; FROM TURNER’ S PAINTINGS TO FLAXMAN’ S SCULPTURES, THE COUNTY’ S PASTORAL LANDSCAPES AND COASTAL SCENES OFFER INSPIRATION AT EVERY TURN.
Now is the time to make the step beyond passive appreciation and start your creative trail across the county where you’ ll discover ancient crafts and talented makers. Whether you are a newbie creator, an established artist or simply seeking an inspiration-led day out, Kent offers an array of bespoke workshops and beginner-friendly courses to guide your hand, sharpen your skills and help you ignite your creative potential.
FOR FAMILIES
Planning a creatively-led day out for the family will lead you to Potterarti( potterarti. co. uk), a family-run pottery studio tucked away in the Bourne Valley near Plaxtol. Set in a chilled, creative environment, children can unleash their painting skills and have fun expressing themselves through an array of colours and shapes.
The studio offers pottery painting sessions for all ages, so parents are encouraged to get involved and invoke their inner artist, with sessions lasting two hours. At the end of the session, you leave your pottery at the studio, ready for glazing and firing before collecting your masterpiece within a few days.
For creativity that continues beyond the studio, take a short 20-minute drive to Eat‘ N’ Mess( eatnmesscakes. co. uk). Here, you’ ll discover a unique outdoor space overlooking the Kent Downs where children can build their own pancakes, choosing from a range of toppings, or get stuck into a selection of deliciously crafted treats for all the family to indulge in.
FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS
Discovering the North Kent coastline will lead you to the market town of Faversham, where you can spend the day learning about the ancient techniques of bookbinding. Throughout the year, Hope Fitzgerald, the founder of Bindfulness Handmade Books( bindfulness. com), holds bookbinding workshops and events in Faversham, with a pop-up shop running from the 1- 6 June, where you can discover a number of events, from Block Print and Bind a Book( 4 June) to Quarterbound Hard Cover Bindings( 6 June).
Additional workshops include a Japanese Stab Binding workshop( 27 June), where you can engage in ancient Japanese bookbinding techniques. You will use handprinted, unique suminagashi marbled paper and sew pages with linen or hemp thread. Each step allows you to harness a new creative skill while you watch your book gradually appear before your eyes.
While your creativity is high, head to Creek Creative( creek-creative. org), a late- Victorian brewery bottling plant. The modest building has been transformed into a creative hub; with 45 local creators, the space is infused with creative flair, from visual artists, silversmiths, writers and illustrators. Explore a wealth of inspiration and a variety of workshops before heading to Creek Creative’ s award-winning Gallery Kitchen Café, where you can tuck into a well-deserved lunch.
FOR A GIRLS’ DAY OUT
Crafting a perfect girls’ day out begins with a creative activity set near the golden sands of Whitstable. This decorative seaside
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