³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Controversial artist Tracy Emin hails from Margate. Work such as her infamous unmade bed earned her a Turner Prize nomination and international fame, as it split opinions.

Tracey Emin

Abstract painter Gary Hume is another young British artist from Kent and Dartford pop artist Peter Blake is best known for his cover art for the Beatles ‘Sergeant Pepper’ album. Fashion designer and inventor of the mini skirt Mary Quant, also comes from the county.

Landscape painter JMW Turner also grew up in Margate and used the East Kent coast as inspiration for some of his most famous seascapes. TS Eliot wrote part of his seminal work ‘The Wasteland’ whilst recuperating in the Kent seaside town.

The scenery of Kent features in several major works of Literature, the most famous being Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’, which tells the story of a group of 14th century pilgrims through prose and verse. Charles Dickens used the landscape of Chatham, Rochester and the Cliffe marshes in many of his works, whilst it is believed that John Buchan’s ’39 Steps’ refers to a the beach at North Foreland.

Much of Renaissance poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe’s short life was spent in Canterbury and First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon was born in the village of Matfield, near Tunbridge Wells. Other noted authors from the county include sci-fi novelist HG Wells and thriller writer Frederick Forsyth.

Made in England

Made in England is a joint partnership between ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ English Regions and Arts Council England to bring audiences and artists together in unique collaborations to provide exciting new cultural experiences.

It is a project dedicated to exploring how England – the place and the people - is expressed through creative and artistic forms.

Think about the Lake District - dramatic and elegant, the lush greens and icy blues depicting an unspoilt England. William Wordsworth was so inspired by the landscape he wrote poems, sonnets and ballads dedicated to it.

Non-traditional art is just as important to recognise - graffiti on the streets, estates built in the Sixties, and even regional accents. Does this architecture, history and culture inspire you to think of all things English?

If you’re bursting with enthusiasm at the thought of creating something - why don’t you see how you can get involved? Visit the main Made in England site to find out how you can get your creative juices flowing.