What makes each tiny scene special and why I love this town
When people first see Whitstable Squared, they often start playing a game - spotting the places they recognise, pointing out their favourite café, or exclaiming "Oh, I know exactly where that is!" But what I love most is watching folks discover the squares they don't immediately recognise, the quiet corners and everyday moments that make this town so special.
Every single one of those 512 squares earned its place for a reason. This isn't just a collection of pretty pictures - it's my attempt to capture the soul of Whitstable, one tiny scene at a time.
The Famous and the Forgotten
Of course, some squares were obvious choices. You can't tell Whitstable's story without the harbour, the boats, the oyster shells and those iconic beach huts. The castle, the sunset views, the pub on the beach - these are the scenes that make people fall in love with Whitstable at first sight.
But for every famous view, there are other squares that celebrate the quieter magic. The perfect chaos of fishing nets and ropes that only locals really notice in the harbour, the view of the Tankerton beach huts from the end of The Street and the big tyres hanging on old ropes against the harbour walls
These sorts of squares are often my favourites because they capture something more intimate - the Whitstable that reveals itself slowly, to people who take the time to really look.
The Characters That Make a Place
What struck me most during those five months of drawing was how much character this town has. Not just the buildings and landscapes, but the personality that comes from decades of people living, working, and creating here.
There's the street art tucked away where only regular walkers will find it - someone's creative gift to the community. The way certain doorways catch the light, the architraves over a shop front or rusty old drain pipes. The beach finds that people have arranged into impromptu art installations, knowing that the next tide might wash them away. The little painted peddles left by children for people to take.
Every weathered boat, every sun-bleached sign, every perfectly imperfect detail speaks to Whitstable's authentic character. This isn't a place that's been polished for tourists - it's a working town that happens to be beautiful and its quirky authenticity shines through in every square.
The Rhythm of Tides and Time
Living by the sea changes everything, and you can see it in the squares. Some scenes only exist at high tide, others reveal themselves when the water retreats. The harbour looks completely different depending on whether the boats are floating or resting on the mud and then there is The Street, the famous gravel spit that only appears at low tide.
I found myself returning to the same spots at different times, different tides, different seasons, trying to capture not just how they look, but how they feel. The early morning calm before the town wakes up. The golden hour when everything glows. The moody drama of a stormy day when the sea shows its power. Dog walks are usually planned around what the tide is doing.
The Details That Tell Stories
Some of my favourite squares are the ones showing things that people don't notice - things you might walk past a hundred times without really seeing. The way there are some huge anchors lying around the town, the dark little alley ways and even some rusting merry-go-round horses on someones roof.
These details matter because they're evidence of life lived or being lived. They show that Whitstable isn't a museum or a theme park - it's a real place where real people have made real lives, and those lives have left their mark in beautiful, subtle ways.
Why Whitstable?
People sometimes ask why I chose Whitstable. The simple answer is that Whitstable chose me. From those first three weekends I came here before deciding the make the 'move'. On my first visit, this town just felt right. The combination of coastal beauty, creative energy, independent spirit, and genuine community was irresistible. I have not regretted moving here, even for one second.
But the deeper answer is that Whitstable has layers. You can visit for a day and fall in love with the obvious charms - the harbour, the oysters, the seaside atmosphere. But live here for a while, and you start discovering the lovely community, the hidden corners, the local stories, the quiet magic that happens when nobody's looking.
That's what I wanted to capture in Whitstable Squared - not just the postcard version of this town, but the lived-in, loved, authentic place that locals know and cherish.
An Invitation to Look Closer
Every time someone spends time with Whitstable Squared, really examining the squares, they're doing what I did during those five months of creation - they're looking at this town with fresh eyes. They're noticing details they might have missed, appreciating the beauty in everyday moments, seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.
That's my hope for everyone who brings Whitstable Squared home - that it becomes not just a beautiful piece of art, but an invitation to look closer, to appreciate more, to fall a little deeper in love with this special place by the sea.
Because when you really look - when you take the time to see all the tiny details that make up the bigger picture - you realise that every square really does matter. Just like every moment, every corner, every small piece of magic that makes Whitstable the extraordinary place it is.
Ready to discover your own favourite squares? Start your own journey of discovery with Whitstable Squared today. Shop
