DAYSOUT
For those willing to venture a little further afield, the autumn arts trail continues towards Westerham. Around 30 minutes from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Chartwell( nationaltrust. org. uk) provides a fascinating meeting point between art, history and the Kentish landscape. The former home to none other than Winston Churchill, this National Trust property was where the former Prime Minister lived for more than 40 years and developed his lifelong passion for landscape paintings.
Churchill’ s genuine studio remains one of the highlights of a visit, offering an intimate glimpse into the artist behind the statesman. He produced more than 500 paintings during his lifetime and today a selection of his work can be viewed within the studio itself. Alongside the paintings, interactive displays delve into Churchill’ s life and creative practice, making Chartwell an unmissable stop for anyone interested in the relationship between art, history and place.
Her Hythe gallery is filled with original pieces inspired by the animals and landscapes surrounding her, with acrylic painting sitting alongside clay sculptures, resin and concrete works. Visitors can purchase her artwork in the gallery or online, while those wanting to take inspiration into their own hands can join one of her sculpting workshops, booked through the website, all ages and abilities are welcome; the workshops are completed over two to three sessions( to allow time for drying), offering the chance to try out sculpting whimsical animals, using air-dry clay and using upcycled decorative materials.
HYTHE & FOLKESTONE
Kent’ s Cultural Heart
Stretching along 26 miles of Kent’ s coastline, the route from Folkestone to Hythe brings together dramatic coastal scenery, historic streets and a thriving community of artists and makers. Starting in Folkestone, one of the county’ s most exciting creative hubs, the trail winds through studios, galleries and independent spaces before reaching the historic streets of Hythe, where inspiration can be found in everything from ceramics to coastal scenery.
One of the biggest artistic hubs in the county and one of the UK’ s most ambitious art exhibitions sits in the heart of Folkestone and is known as Folkestone Creative Quarter( creativefolkestone. org. uk). A cultural district jam-packed full of creative businesses centred around the steep, cobbled streets of The Old High Street and Totine Street, this bohemian district is home to more than 115 creative studios and hundreds of creatives lining the streets with buzzing vitality.
Nestled among them is Clayfolk Studios( clayfolk. uk), a communityfocused ceramic and pottery studio offering visitors the chance to get their hands dirty and create something of their own. On Saturday 3 October, its Halloween Taster Day invites budding artists to experiment with clay, with the chance to create everything from pinch-pot pumpkins and clay gargoyles to spooky welcome signs and trick-or-treat sweet bowls.
FOLKESTONE CREATIVE QUARTER
The creativity continues the following week, when Clayfolk Studios opens its doors on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October for Open Art Folke( openartfolke. com). Showcasing work by the studio’ s resident potters while celebrating Clayfolk’ s first anniversary, it offers a chance to meet the makers behind the wheels and see the breadth of work emerging from this growing creative community.
Alongside the Creative Quarter, a trip to Folkestone would not be complete without heading towards the sea and, more importantly, Folkestone Harbour Arm( folkestoneharbourarm. co. uk). Once a bustling railway line, the Harbour Arm has been transformed into a lively destination of independent cafes, restaurants, bars and creative spaces with panoramic views across the Channel.
For a suitably indulgent end to the day, The Lighthouse Champagne Bar( thelighthousechampagnecompany. co. uk) occupies Folkestone’ s historic 19th-century lighthouse at the end of the Harbour Arm. After a day spent exploring art and creativity, settle down with a glass of Champagne or award-winning English sparkling wine while watching the waves ebb and flow. On a clear day, France is visible in the distance, just 23 miles away, making the lighthouse the closest Champagne bar to the French coast!
Continuing along the coast to the historic streets of Hythe, the source of artistic inspiration shifts from urban creativity towards the natural world. For Corinne Thompson, founder of The Crow’ s Nest Gallery and Studio( corinnethompson. co. uk), the rolling hills, woodlands and wildlife of Kent provide the foundation for her work.
CLAYFOLK STUDIOS
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