THE BEST GALLERY YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT - Natasha Pearl, Canterbury, Kent
From incredible new artists to internationally acclaimed creators, the Natasha Pearl Gallery in Bekesbourne is displaying original gems - you just need to go and discover it
Nestled in the village of Bekesbourne on the outskirts of Canterbury, Chalkpit Farm is home to a community of small businesses, from Mama Feelgoods cafe to CVC Vintage’s collectables. But it is also home to the Natasha Pearl Gallery, a place where art-lovers can get lost in the diverse work of some of Kent’s brightest creatives.
Parking up in the working farm courtyard, and grabbing a hot drink, there is a genuine welcome for anyone heading to the gallery, which is a cosy space leased from Essentially Hops renowned growers and suppliers of dried flowers.
Having spent two years working at The Bourne Gallery - its original name - Natasha acquired the business in 2023 and rebranded in October 2024, entering a new era, while also keeping the reputation as one of the best framers in the area.
Having been an artist for more than 25 years, Natasha used the service to get her work framed for years before eventually joining the business.
“It’s really been a little miracle for me, this place,” she says. “I was in a pretty low financial place. And Ian, who had the shop previously, had been wanting to retire for ages and was constantly saying to me ‘You could run this!’.
Images by https://www.grahelliphoto.com/
“We came up with this sort of miraculous plan. It was a big decision to change it to the Natasha Pearl Gallery. There was an established name and you know where you are on Google and so on. But I just felt I should go for it. And then we had this amazing launch party. And it really sort of exploded.”
While the framing continues to make up a large percentage of the business, as well as exercising colleague Sanja Read’s skills in restoration of paintings (repairing damage and removing funguses, to name but a couple), the gallery side of things has seen her build up a roster of 20 Kentish artists whose work she sells in both mixed and solo exhibitions.
“At the start, it would be people who would come in to frame their stuff, and then if we had a really good rapport, and if there was somebody I could see who was growing as well,” says Natasha. “I didn’t want to go out chasing people. I felt I got to the age that I’m at and, it sounds cliché, but I’m in my feminine receiving energy and felt the right people would come.”
There is a comfy chaos to the gallery, with pictures and sculptures covering the walls, while frame moldings are stacked in corners… the farm dog even pops in to say hello.
“I wanted it to be different,” says Natasha. “I don’t want it to feel like so many galleries, where you go in and it feels a little bit cold, clinical, and wonder whether you’re allowed to
look around.
“I want it to be really welcoming - a friendly, community place where we can help the artists grow as we’re growing.”
When it comes to bringing new artists on board - as with most things at the gallery - it’s all organic and natural bonds are formed. And, as Natasha believes, that creates something magical that can be felt both by the artists and the customer.
“Strange things happen here - there’s definitely some kind of a vibe,” she says. “Like we had one week when you had people bringing in elephant pictures to be framed, and then you get another week when you have all these people who bring all
war planes.
“And there was another week when all these ladies brought in necklaces to be framed, one day after the next. It felt like déjà vu. There’s a ley line that runs underneath here, supposedly. I don’t know about it, but there’s definitely a sort of magical vibe that draws all the right, nice people.”
With all artists based in Kent, the range of styles and mediums on show is incredible. From the colourful abstract oil paintings of GeGe Hirst to the layered landscapes of Margate’s Shane McCoubrey and the unique ceramics of Richard Poole to the graphite and charcoal portraiture of Alan Goggin, there is something different on every inch of wall space.
“We normally rotate the exhibition every month, apart from January to March, when it’s more mixed. I just love the way it changes the energy here.”
One of the most prominent artists in the gallery is Helen Safari, whose wild, unique fusion of embroidery and paint has garnered international acclaim. Her award-winning pieces have been showcased in exhibitions around the world, solidifying her reputation as a globally-recognised artist.
Also featured are mixed media artist Pari Aazami, who “elevates the ordinary” by blowing up images of tree bark and using gilding to draw out beautiful shapes and patterns, while Vivian Riches creates amazing impressionist landscapes with oil and cold wax.
“Pari and Vivienne are really good friends and have been there throughout the whole rise of the gallery and have had amazing faith in me that I could pull it off,” says Natasha. “They are a very big part of the gallery’s growth and identity.”
In the same breath, carpenter and artist Oliver Manning Press made his work available to the public for the first time at the Natasha Pearl Gallery. While it helps that the works also adorn the walls of the popular Mama Feelgoods next door, word is starting to spread that there are some original artwork gems to be had. Natasha Pearl Gallery… you’ve just discovered it.
INSTA: @natashapearlgallery
EMAIL: pearl@natashapearlgallery.co.uk
