The Scottish Gallery enjoyed a lifelong association with Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912–2004). She was a dedicated artist; an innovator in times of change (and chaos); a woman artist finally triumphant in a predominantly masculine world; an artist happy to be a Scotswoman but whose work transcends boundaries.

We are delighted to offer this latest selection of her work from four decades and give thanks to Kate Downie, Dr. Isobel MacDonald and Geoffrey Bertram for their contributions to the accompanying catalogue.

Click here to purchase a copy of the publication that accompanies the exhibition.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

Born: 1912

Place of Birth: St Andrews

Died: 2004

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was born in St Andrews and attended Edinburgh College of Art 1932-7. She moved to St Ives in the 1940s, where she joined the artist societies of Newlyn, St Ives and Penwith and became friends with Nicholson, Hepworth and Gabo. A trip to Switzerland in 1948 inspired her Glacier Series and further significant travel to Italy in 1955 highlighted her strong draughtsmanship. She divided her time between St Andrews and St Ives from 1960 and produced various significant series of abstract works from the geometric to the more organic. Later in her life, her work took on a colourful, painterly flourishing in tandem with magnificent printmaking with Graal Press, consolidating her place as a major Modern British figure.

Please click here to view prints by the artist.

A Journey Through Four Decades

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

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