The Concept
by artist Ann Carrington

Years ago I purchased a beautiful shell ornament in the shape of an Edwardian lady from a now defunct souvenir shop on the sea front in Margate. She has billowing petticoats, a tight bodice and sweet bonnet tied under her chin. Every part of her is made from shells. When I walk from my studio on Margate High Street to the sea front stores, I see they still sell the shell ladies, though now they are imported from China and Korea.

There is something about these sea side ladies that epitomise  Margate – they have that  'Kiss me Quick'  kitsch of this quintessentially English sea side resort, yet they are beautifully crafted with an air of the fine ladies and gentlemen who once inhabited the grand  historical buildings that are central to the town. In addition to this they remind me of Margate's beautiful Shell Grotto.

This Autumn a bronze shell lady 9ft tall and cast in bronze – a scaled up version of the original – will be sited at the end of The Harbour Arm in Margate's Old Town . What is remarkable (and witty!) about the sculpture is its scale and setting as the shell lady is granted all the civic respect of a local hero. The Shell Lady will be silhouetted against the dramatic and fitting backdrop of the sea and sky beloved of Turner.

The bronze will be entitled 'Mrs Booth' after the sea side land lady whose house had spectacular views over Margate harbour.  Twice widowed, Mrs Booth's first husband had drowned at sea and when Turner came to Margate to paint, it was with Mrs Booth he chose to stay. They began a love affair in 1833 and lived as Mr and Mrs Booth, with Mrs Booth supporting Turner financially  until Turners death.

In addition to the bronze Mrs Booth  twelve shell ladies have been crafted from real scallop shells collected from local fishermen during this years scallop season.  These charming shell ladies are a remarkable and beautiful sight as they  appear in surprising locations all over Margate at regular intervals over the Summer months. Each shell lady has been named after a famous lady of Margate – from Baroness Orczy who wrote 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' to Phyllis Broughton, the gaity girl.