Ann Goodall
In my artwork I mostly use watercolour, trying different styles as shown in my work. I have recently started experimenting with pastels and coloured pencils. My favourite subjects are birds and nature inspired by daily walks with my dog Forrest.
Sheran Baker
I have always enjoyed art and love to try new mediums and techniques. I started painting in a watercolour class and progressed to studying for a BA at Canterbury College, there l focused on recycling and made my own medium from tealeaves, coffee grinds, tea bags and dead flower petals. These normally discarded items can give an immense range of texture.
I have made paper using shredded letters, envelopes and tea bags and have run workshops making fabric and paper roses. More recently l have made hand bound artists sketch/notebooks, greeting cards, Dry point printing, pastels and my first love watercolour.
I really enjoy painting still life and animals.
Emma Dunster-Price 2022
I have always been intrigued in the creation of 3D forms; in the physical presence that sulpture inhabits. But so often is untouchable and can only be admired from a distance. I wanted to make work that invited people to want to explore its texture to touch and feel it, to connect with it on a physical level rather than simply a contextual level. Sculpture for me is about form and tactileness. Until recently l had not found a medium or material that was both tactile and versatile enough to manipulate into my desired forms.
Powertex is a fabric hardener that allows me to sculpt with fabric. Unlike other traditional sculpting mediums, fabric gives me a freedom to be more playful with the form and texture; and with the addition of pigments l can almost change the appearance of the fabric altogether. This allows me to sculpt a rainbow of subjects but as l have a love for all creatures great and small l tend to concentrate my work on the theme of animals and nature.
So far l have sculped Hares, Horses, Foxes, Cows, Dragons, Dogs and Chickens and have also created other themed pieces such as The Mad Hatters Tea Party and Alice in Wonderland.
I enjoy creating the themed pieces but l also hope to make work to highlight the fragility of nature, animals and the environment. Powertex is environmentally friendly and l use discarded fabrics; and in some works; alongside scrap metals and glass. Being aware of our environment impact is important to me and so being able to sculpt using upcycled materials is very rewarding.
Ray Newsam 2022
I spent a career of over 40 years as a biological scientist,
specialising in microscopy and scientific photography where the highest
level of detail and an untouched image were vital. During my own time I
also was involved in reportage, portraiture and teaching photography. I
now concentrate on wildlife photography and imaging which is
representational rather than purely a record, and enjoy trying other
media. Since moving to Whitstable from a rural village a few years ago I
have enjoyed exploring a new environment, which is starting to show in
my work.
Sally Harbour 2022
Recently I have been experimenting with Cyanotype photography on paper, canvas and other natural fabrics such as cotton. I sometimes use plants that I have grown or find nearby to create an image using the power of the sun. Also using digital photographs that I convert into negatives I can make more detailed cyanotypes.
I have always felt a connection to nature and enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural surroundings. Living and working in the countryside allows me to photograph some of the animals and birds around me. The latest arrival to been seen as well as heard are a pair of wild Barn Owls which is so exciting that I have been inspired to do some watercolour paintings of them and other wildlife.
Linda Jordan 2017
Textiles and Ceramics
Textiles and Ceramics are the areas of art I love best. Living and working in Chartham near Canterbury, my sculptural vases bowls and other ceramics are hand built from Stoneware, Earthenware and Porcelain. My principal inspiration comes from my love of art nouveau and art deco. I try to reflect their energy and style whilst I seek to express in my designs the forms and shapes present in the natural world.
I studied Art and Design at Stockwell College of Education, Bromley 1971-3. Creating pieces of art from Textiles has always been a love and one which I have pursued since primary school into college and to date. Working with natural materials, particularly silks and glass beads, creating designs from natural organic forms.
I started concentrating on ceramics in 2005; studying under a local potter, Tony Benham at his then studio in Wingham, Kent. Tony had been potting and teaching for over 50 years and has been a mentor, encouraging my enthusiasm for this medium.
Sally Harbour 2016
I usually paint in a verity of mediums including oil, acrylic and water colour however when VIDA an online designer shop contacted me with an opportunity to design unique scarves using digital photographs of my original paintings. I decided to work with them to add another dimension to my artwork. This was not something I had ever considered before and designing online is an exciting new journey for me.
The first step of the process was to take a high resolution digital photograph of the original painting and then upload it to the VIDA website. I was then able to select the part of the image I wanted to use, make it larger or smaller and choose the type of material I wanted the scarf to be printed on . When happy with the design I saved it and gave it a relevant name. The collection on show at this exhibition are mostly taken from by mixed media paintings inspired by the sky and all the beautiful colours that can be seen in it.
The items on show at the Grain Store Studios during the Endangered Species exhibition are an example of my collection that is also available online. I would also like to offer you the opportunity to see and feel the quality of the scarves personally and to purchase them direct from the artist/exhibition.
Each designer scarf is uniquely designed and custom-printed.