Tourist Profile Down to Margate for the Turner Contemporary

The striking, world-class gallery has strong connections to artist JMW Turner, who was famous for his seascape pieces.

Designed by acclaimed architect David Chipperfield, the building now boasts a range of local artworks and must-see exhibitions. One of its charms is that most exhibits are naturally lit from light beaming in from its sea-shore location.

Margate’s little seaside roads and alleys, lined with vintage shops and quirky cafes, has made this a tick on the list of any visiting art-tourists.

The original idea to create a space to commemorate Turner’s visits to Margate came from local resident John Crofts almost 30 years ago, but he died before seeing his dreams come to life.

The Turner Contemporary building was designed to be open to the local community by placing art as close as possible to the front entrance so that it was visible from the streets.

This spring and summer, the gallery will see its largest solo exhibition to date, by British Ghanaian artist Larry Achiampong, whose new work will continue his exploration of race and history.

Displayed across Turner Contemporary’s first floor galleries, the exhibition will include WayFinder, an ambitious new film and sculptural installation, alongside a display of pictures by JMW Turner hand-picked by Achiampong.

A Turner Contemporary spokesman says: “Our work goes beyond showcasing exhibitions, to driving the social and economic regeneration of Margate and transforming lives in one of the most deprived areas of the UK.

“Since we opened, Turner Contemporary has welcomed more than 3.5million visits, put over £70million back into the Kent economy and connected with thousands of people from the local community through our world class programme.”

Entry to the gallery (and all exhibitions) is free.

• Turner (1775-1851) first lived in

Margate, aged 11, staying with an uncle who was a fishmonger in the town.

• The young Turner attended the Thomas Coleman’s School on the corner of Love Lane and Hawley Street in Margate Old Town from 1785-1788.

• One of Turner’s earliest surviving works is a sketch of a Margate street, with boats in the sea beyond.

• In 1796, aged 21, Turner returned to

Margate to sketch and paint, honing his skills as an artist.

• On most Saturdays during 1827, Turner would travel to Margate to escape London. He came by sea and stayed with Sophia Booth at her guest house in Cold Harbour with direct views overlooking the sea and Margate’s unique skies. John Ruskin, a leading English art critic of the Victorian era who defended Turner’s work, stated that “Where therefore, and in this very town of Margate, Turner lived, when he chose to be quit of London, and yet not to travel”.

• Turner lived at Sophia Booth’s house between 1827 and 1847. After Sophia’s husband died in 1833, Turner lived at her guesthouse, becoming Sophia’s long-term companion. Turner

Contemporary is situated on the same site as Mrs Booth’s guest house.

TURNER Contemporary is so much more than just the building, which features on the £20 note.

Over the past 10 years, the worldfamous gallery has exhibited the work of over 2,000 artists.

Many people have grown up with the gallery and the learning and educational opportunities it provides. More than 100,000 local children and young people have worked with the gallery since it opened in 2011.

A spokesman said: “Margate has changed enormously in the last decade, but we still have lots to do to ensure that the work of the gallery has real impact for everyone – particularly after the last couple years.”

There is no denying Joseph Mallord William Turner loved Margate.

He first visited the seaside town when his parents sent him to school in Love Lane at the age of 11.

After returning to sketch the town in his early 20s he became a regular visitor, and more than 100 of his future works were inspired by the East Kent coast.

According to Art Fund, it was the distinctive quality of light in this part of Kent that drew Turner back. He had remarked to the influential art critic John Ruskin that “the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe”.

Though he is best known for his works in oil, Turner is also considered one of the founders of English watercolour landscape painting. His famous works include Dido Building Carthage (1815), The Grand Canal, Venice (1835), Peace - Burial at Sea (1842) and Rain, Steam and Speed (1844).

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