I call them my angels as they saved me. I arrived from Wales in Romney Marsh by buses on a train strike day – no buses and no taxis available to Rye. Standing on the pavement at the garage at eight o’clock with a suitcase, they bothered to ask why. Peter and Noel East-Hall, who in fact lived in Dungeness, drove me all the way home to Rye. Talking on the journey it turned out they were artists (painting and photography) and very familiar with the town and Rye Art Gallery. Both started visiting Dungeness and its surrounding areas about eight years ago when Peter’s parents moved to Lydd-on-Sea.
The more they visited, the more they loved the place with its unique and open landscape as well as far reaching views. They decided they could not wait for retirement to make the big change and moved into their bungalow in 2019, not far from the Pilot Inn. Peter and Noel converted part of the bungalow into a self-catering one bed annex for holiday letting with a car parking space. (https://theseaview.co.uk). The property had a double garage which Noel changed into his art studio and their new life began.
Noel’s introduction to art was quite late in 2019. He met a woman by chance who invited both of them to paint with her. Having no knowledge or skills, Noel was reluctant but loved it once there and has not stopped since. He feels that having been an outsider in the art world for so long it gave him the freedom to paint as he wishes, with no constraints and allows him to be fully creative in his own way. Life has not always been easy for Noel and he feels that it does influence his art but in a positive way as his thought processes change when he paints. His art can be viewed on: https://theseaview.co.uk/art or https://www.instagram.com/theseaviewart.
Peter was interested in photography since the age of nine. Now he and Noel have settled in their sea view abode, both are able to work from home and living in such a special place it was the best time for Peter to concentrate on his passion of taking photos. He says: “In my photography I don’t just want to produce an image but be a medium for creativity. I mostly photograph the local landscape around Dungeness and Romney Marsh, looking for something unique that may have been overlooked every day.” Peter recently enjoyed doing portrait work. These latest and first images will be exhibited at the All Saints Group exhibition at St Mary’s Church in Sellindge, October 29 – November 4 (10am to 2pm). For those interested, his work can be viewed on https://theseaview.co.uk/photography
Image Credits: Peter East-Hall , Heidi Foster .