Discover Brighter Days Markets - Thanet Creatives
Local artists and makers to share selling space
Jenny Duff’s Happy Dining designs and makes table mats and coasters, and works with creatives to expand the range of Melamine products, which are UK made.
Brighter Days began in 2013 when founder Jenny Duff put out a call to local artists and makers to share selling space at Pie Factory Margate, the gallery in the Old Town.
Having returned to Thanet in 2005 with her own business already established and selling through stores around the world, including The Conran Shop and Heal’s, Jenny wanted to start a pop-up opportunity selling alongside some of the amazing makers that were also in the area.
Since then, Brighter Days (@brighterdaysmarkets) has spread further afield to The Workers’ League in Whitstable, Turner in Margate, Pierremont Hall in Broadstairs and the Italianate Glasshouse and Radford House in Ramsgate, bringing together a mix of quality small businesses who all have making at their heart.
In 2024, Brighter Days was awarded CIC status, with the remit of providing benefit to makers, craftspeople and artisans by supporting their activities and providing selling opportunities and training to upskill and improve their route to success.
Last year alone, Brighter Days Markets offered selling opportunities to 42 makers, while Brighter Days Academy has encouraged and shared knowledge and experience with 31 small creative businesses during a pilot project early in 2025, funded by Thanet District Council as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Thanet Social Enterprise Boost Fund and Don’t Miss Margate’s Community Solidarity Fund, which included Pressing Matters with Joe Bill, Editorial Director of ‘cene; one-to-one sessions with life coach Ed Garvey-Long; Know Your Customer with Peter Cross, former head of customer service at John Lewis and business partner of Mary Portas; as well as an in-depth dive with Jenny and Lindsay Marsden of The Black Rabbit to discover the ins and outs of selling to galleries and shops. The portraits shared here were also part of the Academy offer, giving each of the makers a professional portrait to share with customers, press and stockists.
Each portrait by Edward Thompson has been taken in the maker’s workspace.
Amanda, who sells as AJ Priestley Creates, chose to be photographed on the beach at Walpole Bay as her work captures the essence of the natural world with pressed seaweed and beautiful prints.
Around the coast, Epple Bay-based Lizzie Morgan of The Design Dealership has established a business creating colourful prints, cards and accessories, which are sure to bring a spark of joy to the recipient.
Gem Blackstock, whose business is Turquoise Gem Home, handprints gift wrap, notebooks and cards, as well as original prints, all inspired by nature’s beauty.
Karine Bradley of Soapy Herbs works from her organic studio in Cliffsend creating delicious scents in handmade botanical soaps, bath salts and body butters.
Jill Pantony works from her studio in Margate creating hand-built bird sculptures and and decorated ceramics, alongside her paintings inspired by nature and travel.
Stacey Jayne Jewellery, creates timeless, one-of-a-kind pieces, crafted from recycled sterling silver and brass and inspired by the rugged beauty of the sea.
Lindsay Marsden of The Black Rabbit creates collages, which she sells as original works and which also influence her best-selling range of greetings cards and paper products.
Joy Reynolds of Love From Joy x sews stunning fashion accessories made from British tweeds sourced from mills in Harris and Yorkshire.
Janice Royal joined the Brighter Days Academy to prepare for her October exhibition 'Satin and Tat' at Salon in Margate, where she will show sculptural pieces and framed textile artworks made with repurposed materials on the theme of drag queens and moths.
The next Brighter Days Market takes place at Turner Contemporary in Margate on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2025.
Facebook: @brighterdaysmarkets
Maker and their business name & Instagram
Amanda Priestley - AJ Priestley Creates - @ajpriestley.creates
Gem Blastock - Turquoise Gem - @turquoisegem_home
Janice Royal
Jenny Duff - Jenny Duff - @jennyduffmats
Jill Pantony - Jill Pantony - @jillpantony_art
Joy Reynolds - Love From Joy x - @lovefromjoyx
Karine Bradley - Soapy Herbs - @soapyherbs
Lindsay Marsden - The Black Rabbit - @blackrabbitnews
Elizabeth Morgan - The Design Dealership - @the_designdealership
Stacey Bennet - Stacey Jayne Jewellery - @staceyjaynejewellery
