Travelling is an adventure for Antonia Clare Grant. Since she was a child she has lived a semi nomadic lifestyle, packing a suitcase or trunk to spend months, even years, in another culture.
Installation Artist: Antonia Clare Grant
An elected fellow of the RSA – Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Antonia Clare Grant is committed to creativity in many different forms. A trained Michelin chef and large scale commercial commissioned artist, she has adapted those skills in her the development of her latest project – RDG random data generator app – a tool to help build the gap between logic and creativity. The RDG draws inspiration from hetrotopian concepts of time and space and has almost infinite applications.
Antonia is also an early adopter of shared economy platforms and was among the first to host guests from AirBnB in London. She used the output from her random data generator to assist in the design process for The Gallery – a beautiful space in Bayswater listed on The Plum Guide.
Antonia’s travel style
I grew up in three different houses and was always living out of a suitcase. I would describe myself as nomadic having spent many years at boarding school and then traveling to France and other countries on holiday. My boarding school experience probably shaped my attraction to the collective dynamic and sharing my space with others.
Antonia’s first travel memory
A vivid memory is a trip back to my English boarding school after a holiday in France. I must have been about 8 years old. Our plane started to have some trouble so the pilot decided to land the plane on at tiny airfield in northern France. From there I was put on a light aircraft bound for Jersey and sat next some older people clutching cages of chickens bound for market there.
Adventures abroad
I love adventure and I’m not someone who goes off on holiday for a couple of weeks. I prefer to go somewhere for a year and explore. More recently I have enjoyed staying in Greece but I have also spent a lot of time in Switzerland near Bern, Gstaad and Geneva.
When I’m in Greece I stay on the island of Syros, the cultural centre of the Cyclades. The island has a lot of contrasts. It is quite underdeveloped but is also very international and popular with Italian and Russian aristocracy. I love the neoclassical architecture there. The Apollo Theatre in Ermoupolis is a mini version of Milan’s La Scala. It takes about an hour and half to get to Syros by boat from Mykonos but it feels a whole other world away.
Antonia’s favourite places and spaces in London
Turn off your phone and get lost! Central London is generally a safe place and you can discover so many great places just wandering around Covent Garden, Chelsea and Notting Hill. Walk all over the city and build up an appetite.
Where to eat
High end – Little Social, 5 Pollen Street, Mayfair, London – almost like stepping into a Parisian brasserie
Mid Range – Bar Arabica, 3 Rochester Walk, Borough Market – amazing Middle Eastern flavours
Cheap – Tony’s Cafe, 11 Chapter Street, Pimlico – a proper English cafe. Think eggs, beans and chips
Things to do in London
Micro theater and pub – the White Bear Theater is a small theatre focused on new writing and lost classics in Kennington. It is next door to a lovely pub of the same name. Find the White Bear theatre and pub at 138 Kennington Park Road, Kennington.
Public art, architecture and design – seek out projects by London collective Assemble. The group collaborate on projects that address the disconnect between people and how public spaces are made. Venues across town – see the Assemble website for their latest projects
Where to shop in London
If you are looking for items or gifts that reflect true “Englishness” stop by The New Craftsmen in Mayfair. They stock everything from ceramics to jewellery made with proper artisan craft.
Where to next Antonia?
I’m heading back to Greece on another work trip. No further plans from there but you never know…
Antonia designed The Gallery Bayswater apartment available for rent on The Plum Guide – a curated collection of special accommodation in London. Thanks Antonia for being part of the Travel Traits series on Untold Morsels
You can learn about Antonia’s Random Data Generator (RDG) app and find out more about her fascinating projects on her website – Antonia Clare Grant| Twitter | LinkedIn
More Travel Traits stories…
Travel traits: Zehra Hicks | Travel traits: Katie McCrum | Travel traits: Jennifer Neal | Travel traits: Rachel Kwei
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and as always I only recommend products and services that I would recommend to family and friends. All opinions are my own. Please review my disclosure page for more information on my affiliate policy.
The creator, writer and photographer behind Untold Morsels, Katy has been travelling and tasting the world since she was a teenager.
Now the proud mum of twins, she hopes they grow up to share her passions of great food, wine and travel. Favourite destination: Italy