Where Silence Becomes Art: The Studio Changing Lives

In a quiet corner of Kent, art has become a powerful voice for those who communicate differently.

At the Sandra Art4All Studio, 19-year-old artist CeCe Balfour paints her world in shades of blue — a color that, for her, means calm and connection.

CeCe, who has been autistic since childhood, joined the studio at age 12 and has since grown into one of its most expressive painters.

Founded by Sandra Hampton after her job at a special needs school ended, the studio has for nine years offered one-on-one creative sessions that help artists express emotions words can’t always capture.

From paint and photography to mixed media, each piece tells a deeply personal story.

The studio’s summer exhibitions at The Margate School of Art now draw attention for their vibrancy rather than disability, with over 70 artworks sold this year alone.

For Hampton and her artists, the goal isn’t just to create — it’s to celebrate emotion, expression, and the quiet power of art as a universal language.