herne bay mural application

hi, I’m Emily

Emily Kaye smiles, wearing earrings and a white shirt, holding a triple scoop ice cream with a sign in front of an orange wall with handwritten white text saying 'Nice to meet you!!' and a blue cartoon whale illustration on top of the ice cream.

I grew up not far from Herne Bay and am inspired by the opportunity to create a mural that celebrates the town and coastal character through its rich history and natural environment. My process always begins with research, exploring the stories, wildlife and details that make a place unique before developing hand-drawn concepts. I create murals that balance playful visual storytelling with clear composition, inviting people to discover something new each time they pass. I enjoy working collaboratively through the design process, ensuring the finished artwork feels authentic to both the place and its community.

A stylized hand written text 'Piddocks'

I’m an illustrator and mural artist. My work is inspired by people, place and the stories that connect them. I create colourful, uplifting artwork that is joyful, encourages curiosity, discovery, conversation and a sense of belonging.

I’ve created 2 initial concepts to show how a mural might look. This would be subject to change through collaborative design.

These designs are inspired by the wildlife in the bay from the the sea birds & rock pools to the chalk reef and plant life. It would be great to include some of the names such as ‘serrated wrack’, ‘piddock’ and ‘tompot blenny’ to bring these species to the wall. I can also provide printed materials for people to use to spot the wildlife along the coast.

A close-up of a small, black shark tooth being held between someone's thumb and index finger, with a blurry, sandy background.
A plant with spiky gray-green leaves and purple thistle-like flowers.
Colorful mural with birds, butterflies, plants, and abstract shapes painted on a brick wall.
A colorful mural depicting various animals, plants, and aquatic scenes painted on a brick wall, with a playground and trees visible in the background.
Text saying 'TAMPOT BLENNY' written in large, hand-drawn style letters on a black background.

It would be interesting to bring some words into the design.

Colorful mural on a wall featuring diverse people, animals, and outdoor scenes, with trees and a building in the background under a blue sky.
Colorful mural depicting beach scene with seabirds, ocean, fish, and plants on a wall.
Close-up of a vibrant orange sea anemone on a reef surrounded by coral and marine life.
A rocky beach with small plants and shrubs along the shoreline, overcast sky, calm water in the distance.
A crab on sandy beach with its claws raised, facing the camera.
Clams with barnacles on shells in a pile on a rocky surface.

Concept 1 features my ‘patchwork’ style design. This allows for lots of different view’s of the coast with close up details and broader scenes nestled together. It also works well in a community workshop as individual’s can create a small window each which can then be interpreted into a whole design.

Concept 2 features a single scene in a more ‘flowing’ style design. Each segment of the wall would feature a special area of the coast, such as the rock pools, sea life, cliffs and the chalk reef. Large and smaller details combine so something new can be discovered on each visit.

Illustration of a brown and white bird standing on one leg with detailed markings.
Illustrated fish with brown body, beige fins, a red feather on its head, and a small eye.
Women sitting at a long table in a room decorating canvases with paint and brushes during a group art activity. 
Materials & Longevity

Given the exposed seafront location, I would use high-quality exterior paints and protective coatings designed for longevity in coastal environments. I would also use environmentally friendly materials. I use water based paints without aerosols and can apply UV protective varnish to prevent colour degradation.

Experience

I have delivered murals for councils, charities and community organisations, managing projects from research and concept development through to installation. In 2023-2024 I installed 2 murals for Worcestershire NHS A&E department managing a budget of £16,000 for a wall totalling 20m in length. I have also worked as part of a team to install a mural onto a metal surface inside HMP Downview in 2025. I recently installed a mural as part of the Love Newquay Door Art Trail in April 2026. This featured wildlife and scenes from the coastline. I often feature characters in my designs and can add people into the design to facilitate the narrative within the mural and help reflect the local community such as fishermen, walkers, residents, holiday makers and more.

Three young girls painting on a large outdoor mural with colorful letters and images, sitting on a tarp on the grass. 
Why Herne Bay?

Having grown up not far from Herne Bay along the Kent and East Sussex coast, I have a personal connection to the area and its distinctive character. My initial research has explored its wildlife, fossils, maritime history and Victorian heritage, and I'm particularly interested in creating a mural that brings details from the shoreline into focus by celebrating the wildlife along the bay - encouraging residents and visitors to see the landscape with fresh eyes.

Approach

My work always begins with research. I enjoy uncovering the stories, history, wildlife and character that make a place unique before developing a series of hand-drawn concepts. I aim to create murals that are bold and welcoming from a distance, while rewarding closer inspection with layers of detail and texture. My work combines hand-drawn shapes, painted textures and simplified forms to create contemporary public artwork that encourages people to pause and connect with their surroundings.

For the Herne Bay mural I would collect reference materials such as information from the Kent Wildlife Trust. I would also collect information on local tales and stories and would like to weave this into a flowing scene that has impact as a whole and small details to uncover on every visit.

Community Engagement

Community engagement would play an important role in shaping the final design. I would facilitate a creative workshop that invites a local group to explore local stories and local wildlife from Herne Bay. It would be a chance to share memories and create some initial designs using collage of their favourite aspects of Herne Bay. These conversations would help inform the artwork, ensuring it reflects both the identity of the place and the people who use it.

See more of my mural projects here

Four women sitting around a table in a bright room with large windows looking out to a grassy outdoor area. They are engaged in a discussion with laptops, notebooks, and color swatches on the table.
Group of diverse women with arms around each other, painting a colorful mural on an outdoor wall with mountains and sky, behind a barbed wire fence.
A person with dark hair lying on a colorful mural wall, under a clear blue sky, with trees in the background.
Children painting a large colorful poster with an adult helping, outdoors on grass.
Colorful mural on a door depicting various animals and nature scenes, including a fish, a bird, a seal, and plants, with labels indicating a fire exit and keep clear.