Wild and wonderful stories about a Kent seaside town have made up a new exhibition by artist Quinton Winter. Chris Price reports.

Fact or fiction is the question raised in a new exhibition by Whistable-based illustrator Quinton Winter.
Some of the works are clearly based on real events – even though they are astounding – such as the monster waves photographed in 1940, when the seafront froze.
Then there are the more folklore-type tales, such as the one about a drowned Victorian tea party, whose cups can still be heard clinking on stormy nights by the sea.
There is a parable of a lusting seafarer, a panther and the story of a giant fox roaming the town’s streets.
Although the truth has been twisted and accentuated in some cases, artist Quinton stands by every one of these stories.
“All the tales are true,” said Quinton, 42, who hails from Devon but moved to Kent 11 years ago.
“The panther is real. The giant fox is definitely real. But with all folk tales and news reports, the truth is open to interpretation.
“For instance, is there really a sea serpent in the waters off the coast near Herne Bay? According to a report made in 1935 there is, or was. I doubt it is still around. It was probably frightened away during the war.”
Quinton is an illustrator who has worked for Time Out magazine, the Guardian, children’s books and recently worked on the new book by Sissinghurst author Victoria Hislop.
Quinton’s postcards have been on sale at the Horsebridge Centre in Whitstable for about a year. A popular version is his picture of Peter Cushing, left, the Star Wars actor who lived in the town until his death in 1994.

Weird Whitstable – Art and Artefacts by Quinton Winter runs in Gallery 3 at the Horsebridge Arts Centre, Whitstable, from Wednesday, February 13 to Sunday, March 31. Admission free. Call 01227 281174.