A colourful new art exhibition is bringing together the work of disabled artists in Margate this summer, with wellbeing, care, creativity and self-expression at the heart of the event.

Titled “Proud 2 Create”, the exhibition showcases artwork produced at Sandra Art4All Studio, a creative space that has spent the past 10 years helping disabled people with additional impairments and learning needs explore their artistic abilities.

The exhibition is being held at The Margate School in the Old Woolworths Building, with the show running until 29 August.

For visitors, it is more than simply an opportunity to look at paintings and other artwork. Organisers hope the colourful exhibition will provide a peaceful environment where people can pause, reflect and enjoy the positive effect of art.

A Decade of Making Art Accessible

Sandra Hayden, who established and runs the studio, has spent the past decade creating an environment where disabled artists can develop their creativity with support while maintaining as much independence as possible.

She describes Sandra Art4All Studio as a lively and welcoming place where people can express themselves without feeling restricted by conventional ideas about art.

The studio's 10th anniversary is being marked with two summer exhibitions, giving the artists an opportunity to present their latest work to a wider audience.

One exhibition was held at the Pie Factory Margate in July, while the current show at The Margate School features around 170 pieces of artwork created during 2026.

The collection is expected to offer visitors a striking mixture of colour, personality and individual artistic styles.

Art, Wellbeing and a Moment of Calm

For Sandra Hayden, the importance of the exhibition goes beyond artistic achievement.

She believes that spending time in a colourful gallery can itself have a positive effect on people's wellbeing.

In a busy world filled with constant noise, screens and daily pressures, simply walking through an exhibition can offer people a chance to slow down.

Visitors can take their time looking at individual pieces, notice different colours and details, and simply enjoy being present in the moment.

That quiet experience can make an art gallery feel less like a formal cultural venue and more like a place for reflection and relaxation.

Hayden hopes the Margate exhibition will encourage people to experience that feeling for themselves.

How Sandra Art4All Studio Began

The story behind the studio is closely connected to Sandra Hayden's own career.

Hayden worked as an art teacher and decided to establish the studio after being made redundant following the closure of the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate.

Rather than allowing her experience in arts education to come to an end, she created a new space where people with disabilities and additional support needs could continue to explore their creativity.

Over the following years, the studio developed into an important creative community in Margate.

Its approach is centred on helping artists create work as independently as possible, while providing the support they need when required.

A Platform for Deaf, Autistic and Neurodivergent Artists

One of the most important aspects of the Proud 2 Create exhibition is the range of artists involved.

The show features work by deaf, autistic and neurodivergent artists, offering visitors an opportunity to see different approaches to creativity and artistic expression.

Rather than placing limits on what disabled artists can achieve, the studio aims to create an environment where individual interests and abilities can guide the creative process.

That philosophy can be seen throughout the exhibition.

Each artwork represents not only a finished creative piece, but also the artist's own perspective, imagination and way of communicating through visual art.

170 New Pieces on Display

The scale of this year's exhibition is another reason the event is attracting attention.

Around 170 vibrant artworks, created during the year, are being displayed at The Margate School.

For the artists, having their work exhibited publicly provides a valuable opportunity to see their creativity recognised outside the studio.

For visitors, the collection offers a chance to discover new artists and experience a colourful side of Margate's creative community.

The exhibition also demonstrates how accessible art programmes can create opportunities for people who may otherwise face barriers when trying to participate in the arts.


Meet the Artists

The Proud 2 Create exhibition features work from a group of artists with different backgrounds and creative approaches.

Those taking part include:

Together, their work forms a broad and colourful collection that celebrates individuality and creative freedom.

Why This Exhibition Matters

Events like Proud 2 Create can play an important role in making the arts more inclusive.

For disabled artists, access to suitable creative spaces can provide more than a hobby. Art can become a way to build confidence, develop skills, communicate ideas and connect with other people.

The exhibition also gives the wider community an opportunity to see the talent that can flourish when people are given the right support and encouragement.

Sandra Art4All Studio's 10-year journey demonstrates what can happen when accessibility and creativity are placed at the centre of an arts project.

Visit Proud 2 Create in Margate

The Proud 2 Create summer exhibition is being held at The Margate School in the Old Woolworths Building and continues until 29 August.

With 170 new pieces on display, the exhibition offers visitors plenty to explore while celebrating a decade of accessible art in the Kent seaside town.

At its heart, Proud 2 Create is a celebration of something very simple: the freedom to make, create and express yourself.

And in a gallery filled with colour, creativity and personal stories, visitors may find that the experience offers something unexpected too — a little time to stop, breathe and see the world differently.

📝 Culture