DAYSOUT
The Autumn Arts Trail cont...
WHITSTABLE
Kent’ s Creative Escape
Famous for its extensive oyster heritage dating back to Roman times, Whitstable boasts far more than its award-winning seafood. Alongside the harbour and shingle beach, the town has cultivated a thriving creative community, with independent galleries, working studios and artists dotted throughout the streets, there is plenty to discover beyond the shores.
Along Whitstable High Street, a collection of local galleries provide a glimpse into the talent flourishing across the town. The first stop is The Fishslab Gallery( fishslabgallery. co. uk), which is housed in a former wet-fish shop( hence the name). The space was established as a community-led initiative to provide an affordable space for local artists and the gallery now hosts a weekly programme of exhibitions, showcasing everything from oil paintings and sculptures to collections.
From 20- 27 October, Kent-based printmaker Judith Westrup( judithwestrup. com) will showcase a selection of her original linocut works. Each piece begins as a simple sketch before being carefully handcarved and printed using a Victorian press, offering visitors an insight into the intricate techniques behind this modern art form. The exhibition will be a rare opportunity to discover the process directly from a local artist.
Further along the High Street, the Horsebridge Arts Centre( thehorsebridge. org. uk) stands as another cornerstone of Whitstable’ s creative scene. Spread across three floors of exhibition space, the centre showcases work from local, national and international artists, alongside an impressive programme of more than 40 classes each week!
From Thursday 8 to Sunday 18 October, the centre will host We Are Our Memory, a curated exhibition featuring 38 contemporary artists from across Kent, selected through an open call. Bringing together a diverse range of practices, the exhibition explores ways memory shapes our understanding of people, places and identity.
Of course, no trip to Whitstable would be complete without sampling some of the town’ s most famous creations of another kind. After exploring the galleries, stop for lunch at the Whitstable Oyster Company( whitstableoystercompany. com) and sample its renowned native Whitstable oysters. Enjoy them beside the seafront while taking in views towards the company’ s oyster farm; proof that in Whitstable, creativity and craftsmanship extend well beyond the canvas.
For an ever closer look at the people behind East Kent’ s creative scene, time your visit with East Kent Artists’ Open Houses( ekoh. org. uk) taking place across three weekends in October. More than 37 artists’ homes and studios across Whitstable will open their doors, giving visitors the chance to see artwork in a more personal setting and meet the makers themselves.
Among the artists taking part are Margo Selby( margoselby. com), whose studio showcases her intricate woven textile works, and Bruce Williams( brucewilliamsart. com), whose figurative paintings draw on natural landscapes and still life through bold, expressive marks and oil paint. Each open house offers a different perspective on the creative process and a chance to discover the artists who help put Whitstable’ s creative scene on the map.
WHITSTABLE BEACH HUT
THE FISHLAB GALLERY HORSEBRIDGE ARTS CENTRE
38 • www. insidekent. co. uk