The worried father of a man who has been missing for 11 days has urged him to “please come home”.

Talented artist and musician Dan Venes, 31, from Canterbury, was last seen at about 6pm on August 14, in the College Road area of Margate.

As efforts to find him continue, his dad Jason Joiner has made a heartfelt plea begging his “lovely, caring” son to make contact.

“Everyone’s worried,” he said. “Nobody’s going to be upset or mad. We love him.”

Mr Joiner says Dan was picked up at Sturry railway station by police following concerns for his welfare.

“He was having a bad time”, said Mr Joiner, 55, from Swalecliffe.

He was taken to the QEQM hospital in Margate, but is believed to have left soon after.

Dan was captured on CCTV in Margate a short while later, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him since.

A police helicopter helped search over Boughton-under-Blean last Tuesday night, after someone reported seeing him in the area.

On Tuesday this week, it was sent up again to help scour the seafront in Reculver, following another possible sighting.

But Dan remains missing.

Mr Joiner says he has been extremely worried and struggling to sleep since police called him on Sunday to inform him of Dan’s disappearance.

"We all love you so much. Please come home..."

“Lots of his friends and me and my family have been searching for him,” he said.

Addressing Dan directly, he added: “Just please come home - everyone’s worried.

“Nobody’s going to be upset or mad at him. We love him. I tell him all the time. “

Mr Joiner also urged members of the public to keep looking out for his son, and to contact the police if they see him.

Other family members and friends have taken to social media to pray for Dan’s safe return, and to urge him to make contact.

One wrote: “Come home Dan please. Your family are going out their minds. You’re not in trouble. We all love you so much. Please come home.”

A friend added: “Please contact someone Dan.”

Dan was born in London and has lived in locations including Italy and Herne Bay.

Now based in Canterbury, he is a talented artist and musician with thousands of followers on Facebook pages that exhibit his work.

His page ‘Dan Venes - Acoustic’ features his popular music as a solo guitarist and songwriter, “inspired by blues, rock, folk and just music with soul”.

He is also known for busking in the city. His dad said: “He’s a lovely, caring person.

“He’s brilliant on guitar, and his artwork he sells to America, Canada, and all over the place. A lot of people buy his work and follow him.”

Dan is described as being 5ft 9ins tall, with a slim build and short, dark hair.

He also has a short beard and was last seen wearing a red and black checked shirt with black jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police by calling 101 and quoting reference number 14-1230.

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