She Rises With the Sea: A Partnership Between Power of Women Thanet and Rise Up Residency Brings New Public Artworks to Margate, Broadstairs and Westbrook, Blending Art, Activism and Environmental Awareness
THANET, England — This autumn, the streets of Thanet are being transformed into open-air galleries celebrating women, community, and the sea. Power of Women Thanet (POW) has partnered with Rise Up Residency (RUR), also known as Rise Up. Clean Up. Margate., to launch She Rises With the Sea, a mural series exploring resilience, creativity, and environmental awareness.
The project includes three murals in Margate, Broadstairs, and Westbrook. Two were unveiled on 11 October to mark the International Day of the Girl, while the final work will be revealed in December. Together, they bring global and local artists into conversation with the Thanet community, reflecting both the strength of women and the need to protect the planet’s oceans.
The Westbrook mural highlights the endangered Tope shark, native to UK waters and
symbolic of misunderstood ocean life. The mural features a woman diver gently redirecting
the shark’s nose – a gesture popularised by marine conservationist Ocean Ramsey, showcasing coexistence and care. This work pays tribute to the women oceanographers who
challenge outdated taboos and lead marine science today.
Courtesy of the artist
Leading the creative direction is the internationally acclaimed Scottish muralist KMG, whose folkloric style merges storytelling and symbolism. She explained that “the murals are inspired by our own connections to living on the coast and the importance of the ocean within our own cultures, ecosystem and heritage.” She added that they take “influence by women in the past and present who have left and lead a legacy in championing the necessity to listen to and respect our seas and the creatures within. From folklore to science, telling a story of how we can coexist and protect each other.”
Margate-based artist Louis Michel, who co-founded Rise Up Residency and plays a key role in its environmental work, said he is “guided by the ocean to activate people on land and collectively share unheard, unseen or forgotten stories of empathy,” adding, “Let’s rise up.” His work helps connect art with action, turning creative expression into environmental engagement.
Inspired by Gaelic mythology, KMG’s Broadstairs mural draws on two legends:
the “Madadh-cuain” (translated as “ocean wolf” – an ancient term believed to reference
orcas) and the Selkie, a mythical ocean woman who transforms between seal and human.
KMG fuses these two stories, exploring themes of strength, transformation, and freedom –
qualities echoed in the lives of women past and present.
Courtesy of the artist
As part of RUR’s residency programme, KMG and Michel are mentoring emerging artist Nemi Gardner, known by her graffiti name Autonemy. She said that “it felt like somehow I had a prayer answered when I got offered to be a part of the mentoring programme, as painting purposeful murals has always been a dream of mine, and life as a woman graffiti artist is challenging, this couldn’t have come at a better time and I’m so grateful.” Her mural, to be completed later this year, will be the final piece in the series, symbolising the next generation of women artists rising to meet creative and environmental challenges.
The collaboration has drawn strong support from partners across the arts and environmental communities. Calum Hall, founder of Creative Debuts, which champions underrepresented artists, said the initiative “resonates deeply on many levels with the mission we are on at Creative Debuts.” He explained that “Creative Debuts are thrilled to support the creation of ‘She Rises With The Sea’ and to transform spaces with impactful public artwork.”
The project, he continued, reflects “the celebration and amplification of female artists” and is “aligned with ecological causes and raising awareness for our oceans,” which he described as “more important and urgent as every day passes.” For Hall, “art is the perfect vehicle for sparking conversations and for bringing communities together, and we have no doubt these stunning new murals will do just that.”
©2025 Power of Women Thanet (POW), Rise Up Residency (RUR)
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