Pop Up in Whitstable

At the beginning of September I took part in my very own Pop Up Shop in the lovely seaside town of Whitstable.

It's just across the estuary from me here in Leigh on Sea and its a place I have frequented quite often on little visits, as one of my friends, Imogen has a place there.

I was sharing the space with vintage lifestyle brand Love Ur Look.  Ronke, the designer had held a pop up shop in my gallery earlier in the year (more about pop up shops later) and mentioned she was doing one in Whitstable and I jumped at the chance!

I made some mugs based on the local landmarks of Whitstable - Red Sands, the historic WW2 forts out to sea, Wheelers Oyster Bar, The Fish Market in the harbour and the Old Neptune Pub along the seafront:

They went down really well and now they are being stocked at the Whitstable Improvement Trust - 34 Harbour Street, Whitstable (if anyone fancies a gander or wished to purchase one!)

I had also brought along some other artists work from my gallery in Leigh.  Julie's teacups and also artist Malcolm Perry's paintings of Whitstable:

Here are some other pics from my Week in Whitstable:

I had an incredibly nice lunch at Waltshaw's (19 Harbour Street) - a few doors down from Show Off Gallery, I had A salt beef on white bread and a sparkling elderflower.  Yummy!  Would def recommend, the lady was very friendly, and if I was into coffee I would be in heaven! And if I wasn't working, I would have had a sip of the mant craft beers they have on offer!

I found that Whitstable was very similar to my home town, perhaps that's why I like it so much?

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Just before the Royal Wedding, I took a trip 'oop north' to Wakefield to deliver 15 vessels to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to be displayed in their Shop Showcase from 9th May - 22nd July.  I still dont quite trust the postman to not break my stuff, and a little break is just waht i needed.

The vessels at the shop

Here's the shop! That's the display cabinet in which the work will be displayed

It was such a beautiful day we decided to stay up there and make the most of the park.  It's set in 500 acres of rolling rural park land.  I really couldnt believe how lovely it was, the sky was a piercing blue and there were sheep with lambs roaming the land!  I really do feel honoured to have work exhibited here!


One of Jaume Plensa's large heads - they really were massive



Bretton Hall in the distance behind a sculpture 'Promenade'

Terroising the lambs

After the park visit we didnt really want to drive the 4 hours back home, so we decided to drive through the Peak District, somewhere I've never been before.  A little mid-week adventure. 

Stopped at the side of the road to take a photo of the peak district! haha.. cars were roaring by!

We drove to Buxton - I recognised this name from the bottled water, and loved the fact there were railway arches - viaducts? with houses and buildings built literally underneath them, right on top. 

It was all very reminisant of the Railway Children, dark stone cottages, bright green greenery! - have i got the right area?  Anyways, next we drove through Bakewell (home of the infamous tarts!) and ended in Matlock Bath where we were to stay the night in a little B&B.

Matlock Bath

Bakewell

I'd def recommend a visit to the Park and to the Peak District. Really loved it!