Wild Swim + Write: Sense the Estuary with Artist and Swimmer Angenita Teekens

Saturday 21 June, 8.45am – 1.00pm

Saltwater Beach Cafe, 111 Chalkwell Esplanade, Southend-on-Se,a SS0 8JJ

In partnership with the Federation of Essex Women’s Institutes and Metal.

Immerse yourself—body and mind—in the tidal rhythms of the Estuary. Join artist and swimmer Angenita Teekens on Saturday 21 June for a unique morning of wild swimming at Chalkwell Beach followed by breakfast and creative writing at Chalkwell Hall.

We’ll gather at high tide for a refreshing dip or swim in the Estuary, followed by a walk to Chalkwell Hall, where a nourishing breakfast awaits. Afterward, Angenita will lead an experimental writing workshop, inviting you to explore your sensory impressions and shared experiences of the estuarine landscape through words.

How does the Estuary feel?

Can we smell its colours, see its sounds, hear the tide’s rhythm?
This workshop is a space to explore creative writing and experience—where water, body, and landscape meet.

Event Details:

Meeting Time / 8:45am at Chalkwell Beach (by Saltwater Café)
111 Chalkwell Esplanade, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 8JJ
High Tide/ 9:06am
Swim / 9:15 – 10:00am
Breakfast/ 11:00 – 12:00pm at Chalkwell Hall
Writing Workshop/ 12:00 – 1:00pm
Tickets: £20 – limited spaces available.

Please note:

– Participants must be 18+ and confident swimmers.
– It is recommended to bring sea shoes, a towel, and any personal writing materials you’d like to use.
– The walk from Chalkwell Beach to Chalkwell Hall takes approximately 20 minutes uphill. Free parking is available at Chalkwell Park.
– Please specifiy any dietary requirements to chalkwell@metalculture.com
– Come with curiosity and leave with salt on your skin, stories in your hands, and a deeper sense of place.

About Artist Angenita Teekens:

Angenita Teekens is an established artist with 25 years of experience in facilitating community art projects. She studied at the Art academy in Tilburg, Netherlands gaining a teaching qualification in Art, Design and Dutch. Later she gained a Master’s degree in Sculptural Practice from the University in Essex, England. Her own practice includes, mixed media, drawing, clay works, photography, writing and a combination of all. Angenita’s work revolves around the Blackwater Estuary in Essex and carefully considers the ethos that a socially and environmentally sustainable world can be achieved by using creative expressions to connect people of all backgrounds to their communities and natural environment.
Website: https://arteekens.weebly.com/
Instagram: @angenita_teekens

Image By: Philippa Stewart

Part of Essex Writers House

Essex Writers House is back this June 2025 – and it’s bigger, bolder, and bursting with creative opportunities.

An inspiring lineup of events including wild swimming, wild hot desks, estuary mud walks, writing walks, film screenings, open advice sessions and collaborative co-writing spaces.

Come write, connect, and get muddy with us.

Visit metalculture.com/projects/essex-writers-house-2025/ for full programme details