For Kerene, the physical ‘making’ of her art is what drives her practise. She’s in her element when she can explore materials and processes that create texture or sculptural elements to combine her love of assemblage, fine art photography and painting. Her inspiration comes from spaces and places near to home, in the hidden treasures of the woodlands and the changing Kent coastline.

Kerene will draw upon nostalgic reminiscences of childhood or focus on the impermanence and fragility of life and glory in its beauty, power and mystery. Her intention is to highlight the subtle nuances of the simple things found in the natural world, to share her sense of awe in the gifts we are given but often overlook and to blend this into her practice.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.kerene-art.com
Contact: kerene@tiscali.co.uk

Glass artist specialising in painting, sandblasting and kiln casting.

As an artist and scientist, glass is a wonderful and challenging medium to work with. It can be delicate or robust enough to withstand bullets and requires expensive equipment to change its shape, following which it requires skilled and complex techniques to apply a range of aesthetic imagery leading to the creation of fine artefacts.

Originally I trained as a chemist and graduated with a PhD in 1999. My focus shifted to art and after initially studying with Kathy Shaw for two years, I graduated with PGCE’s in Fine Art and Glass and Architecture (2007) from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design. In addition, I was awarded the John Corkill Memorial Award for best presentation in 2006 by The British Society of Master Glass Painters. Since that time I have exhibited on a number of occasions and undertaken commissions.

My work combines my love of science with art creativity using naturally occurring phenomena as my material. In one way I treat glass as a canvas on which to paint and etch. Also, my work as a chemist leads me to experiment with finding new ways of working with glass, especially the re-use of waste glass in order to create fine art pieces and 3-D objects, always trying to preserve or enhance the original qualities of the glass by the addition of colours, then superimposing my personal artistry. My initial inspiration came from ecclesiastical windows and medieval glass.

I have expertise in painting, acid etching, sandblasting, fusing, slumping and casting glass including waste glass and am happy to work to commission.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.lsmithglassart.co.uk
Contact: drlbmsmith@yahoo.co.uk

Pattern and rhythm in everyday objects, photographed close-up or juxtaposed against other elements, form a large part of my portfolio.

As part of a series of contemporary and original images they can be viewed at my online gallery, Ammonite Photography.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.ammonitephotography.co.uk
Contact: michaelcolvin1@sky.com

I am passionate about people, colour and textiles. I sell colourful paintings that celebrate life in galleries in the South East of England and sell on line at notonthehighstreet.com.

I also teach creative workshops and life drawing at Godinton House Ashford, Kent.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.kaidylewisportraits.co.uk
Contact: info@kaidylewisportraits.co.uk

“The origins of my work lie within my own personal history of illness, hospitalisation, surgery and bodily related issues. I often explore these issues in relation to how I perceive my own body image in reflection and how other’s react to ideas around altered body image. Predominantly concerned with the representation of the female body, and the portrayal of the female Nude as perfectly contained, neatly packaged, with no excretions, my work purposefully sets out to challenge, confront and contradict these historical representations.

Painting
I study myself in the mirror, I paint what I see and how I feel.

I often use photographic  and film imagery to ‘stage’ my ideas and memories, but the painting is still my primary concern. The use of photography, film and performance have been widely used as mediums with which to represent the female body, since the 1960′s, when Feminist Artists started to question the patriarchal representation, ideals and aesthetics that surround the objectification of women within historic paintings. As a result, painting as a medium has been somewhat neglected as an appropriate medium with which to depict the female form. I have purposefully chosen paint as my primary medium, for these reasons but equally importantly, I find that the language of paint transcends photography – with the luminosity and sensuality of paint I am able to portray all manner of tensions, ugliness, beauty, seduction, intensity, power, vulnerability, disgust and psychological discord. In addition to this chiaroscuro inspired by Carravaggio helps to create drama and intrigue in the imagery, and imagination is given a free rein. I also find that the meditative state of painting allows some of the deepest emotions to escape into the painting in a serendipitous manner and when full conciousness is resumed, I am often left with a painting quite different to my original intentions.

Sculpture
My soft sculptures are my therapy – inspired by the words of Louise Bourgeois “…the magic power of the needle – The needle is used to repair the damage. It is a claim to forgiveness”. By sewing together Stoma bags with surgeons suture materials, I am healing my own wounds, forgiving my bodies failings and freeing myself of my bodily torment. It is my abreaction.

Communication
Whilst initially concentrating on abreaction and personal therapy my art also acts as a tool for communication. The work aims to open up discussions about the representation of the body in general, and challenge stereotypical ideology on beauty, sexuality and body image, to confront prejudice and ignorance in order to present the body authentic. In order to do this the work often looks at the most abject states of illness and disease – Beautiful Ingres styled nudes therefore lounge vomiting into the toilet bowl – this is real life – the dichotomies of beauty and ugliness, and the duality between strength and vulnerability.

Within the subtext of my work hidden meanings and agendas are always present, in the form of links to Art Historical contexts, psychoanalytic references to mental disturbances and imbalances, links into notions of change, transition, entropy, decay and decomposition as essential elements of mortality; as well as sexuality and sexual fantasy. These issues are often presented in the form of subtle symbolism and metaphors, there to be read if wished.

My work does not dictate to the viewer, nor back them into a corner, but instead seduces them in and then evokes strong physical reactions, asking them to question it, and in doing so question themselves. It is both disturbing and engaging – real. ”

Location: Ashford
Website: www.heidiyssennagger.co.uk
Contact: heidi.yssennagger@hotmail.co.uk

My art is about the appropriation and restructuring of found objects and
materials that are already in existence.

I try to attract the eye of the viewer by choosing objects that they will connect to, and that are instantly recognizable by association and nostalgic response.

Starting with an initial proposal, I borrow elements that resonate with each objects history and join them together to create new narratives.

I like to explore the qualities of the mediums that I choose and create
techniques that allow the materials to create new forms.

Interested in global, social and economical issues, my inspirations originate
from popular culture dating back to the 1960’s onwards and my influences
include Peter Blake, Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha and Vik Muniz.

With an underlying sense of humour and the use of parody, my finished
artworks reflect the funny side of life as well as the seriousness of reality.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.tammyclark.co.uk
Contact: gizmomugwai@hotmail.com

Abstract Artist Wendy-Louise Fuller is known for the materials and processes she achieves within her paintings. Texture and Colour is something that really makes her work powerful. The inspiration that thrives her work comes from looking and learning from other artists.  Being Passionate about all kinds of subject helps with exploration and progression as an Artist.

The medium I use with my art practice is mainly acrylic and 3d paint pens. My Art work is all about surface and the effect I can create with using paint really excites me. This excitement is shown within the development and final pieces I create. Colour bold and bright to bring the surface out that much more can be quite amazing. I feel that colour is something my work is really about the meaning does not have to be a personal subject just sometimes by playing with colour creates what I want to show as an artist.

Researching and opinions from other art practitioners can be very helpful to progression. Getting other colleagues opinions or learning from their work is all about being an artist. There ideas can help your ideas and this is what I love about art being so open.
My research tends to be inspired by Georgia O’keeffe, Chris Ofili and Gary Hume. All amazing abstract artists. They all have different qualities that interest me Georgia O’keeffe is the size and confidence she shows with in her work. Where as Chris Ofili is all about the material and colour that is something that makes his work so powerful. Gary Hume is all about abstract qualities and the gloss he uses in his work has been a real help to my own practice as I have been using this idea and process within my own work as a progression.

Size is no object with in my practice. I love working big and small I tend to work on a larger scale. I also use a lot of repetition with the canvas’s using several amongst each other usually helps my work develop a story. Also the use of several small canvas’s inspire me to experiment with abstraction because I can put the canvas’s in different orders and experiment with composition like Gary Hume does within his own art practice. The reason I like working bigger is because I feel it creates more of an impact like Georgia O’keeffe work does.

My Art is very textured this is because I love creating surface using different materials. I love to experiment with several materials to see what the end effect will be. I feel that using texture helps escape the canvas and makes my painting that much more visually exciting it really jumps out at you.

As an artist I hope to improve by completing the top up degree Ba course. I really hope by experimentation and practising with processes and materials I can really improve my art as a whole. Art is a very passionate subject and I really hope to create much more passionate work.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.wendy-louisefuller.webs.com
Contact: wlfuller@hotmail.co.uk

I’m A local Artist from South East Kent, my work isn’t to one art medium in particular it is a lot more varied. I  like to explore with a wide range of materials and processes. I feel my work as a whole, covers a range of techniques.

My current images of Skinscapes and Bodyscapes use the body and both its imperfections and perfections to create unexpected shapes often being more reminiscent of nature or a landscape than a human body. My intention in doing this is to make you really look and be aware of actually seeing, and noticing things you have not seen before, rather than taking it as its original impact of being “just a body part”.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.freewebs.com/gemmaharris
Contact: gemzie82@hotmail.com

Liz Garnett is a fine art photographer based in Kent, UK. She has exhibited her work in London and the South East as well as in mainland Europe.

Location: Ashford
Website: www.lizgarnett.com
Contact: liz@lizgarnett.com