ARTISTS
Winifred Nicholson: Cumbrian Rag Rugs
Best known for her radiant paintings, Winifred Nicholson (1893鈥�1981) was a leading figure in 20th-century British art. This exhibition reveals a lesser-known side of her creativity, her connection to the tradition of rag rug making in rural Cumbria.
Featuring 25 works spanning from the 1920s to the 1970s, Cumbrian Rag Rugs offers a unique view of Nicholson鈥檚 artistic collaborations with family, friends, and women in the local farming community around her home at Bankshead, located on Hadrian鈥檚 wall.
Rag rugs, also known as hooky rugs or proggy mats, were once a practical and imaginative craft, using scraps of old fabric to create warm, colourful floor coverings. After moving to Bankshead in 1923, Nicholson met her neighbour Margaret Warwick. One day, Nicholson visited Margaret鈥檚 farmhouse and discovered her making a rag rug鈥攁n encounter that sparked Nicholson鈥檚 lifelong passion for the tradition. She later became a dedicated advocate, helping to revive rag rug making in the 1960s and 70s. She invited others to contribute designs, from her grandchildren to her friends, including the artist and poet Li Yuan-chia鈥攚hich were crafted by local women using traditional methods.
The exhibition brings together 25 rugs, many never seen in public before, alongside Nicholson鈥檚 sketches, postcards, tools, and archival material that offer a glimpse into her creative world. From farm animals to abstract designs, these vibrant works celebrate shared making, artistic exchange, and the enduring beauty of everyday materials.
Alongside the exhibition, works by five contemporary makers will be on display: Emma Tennant, Rafaele Appleby, Bertram and Elena Nicholson, Lu Mason, and Rachael Matthews; each of whom has drawn inspiration from Nicholson鈥檚 vision.
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Best known for her radiant paintings, Winifred Nicholson (1893鈥�1981) was a leading figure in 20th-century British art. This exhibition reveals a lesser-known side of her creativity, her connection to the tradition of rag rug making in rural Cumbria.
Featuring 25 works spanning from the 1920s to the 1970s, Cumbrian Rag Rugs offers a unique view of Nicholson鈥檚 artistic collaborations with family, friends, and women in the local farming community around her home at Bankshead, located on Hadrian鈥檚 wall.
Rag rugs, also known as hooky rugs or proggy mats, were once a practical and imaginative craft, using scraps of old fabric to create warm, colourful floor coverings. After moving to Bankshead in 1923, Nicholson met her neighbour Margaret Warwick. One day, Nicholson visited Margaret鈥檚 farmhouse and discovered her making a rag rug鈥攁n encounter that sparked Nicholson鈥檚 lifelong passion for the tradition. She later became a dedicated advocate, helping to revive rag rug making in the 1960s and 70s. She invited others to contribute designs, from her grandchildren to her friends, including the artist and poet Li Yuan-chia鈥攚hich were crafted by local women using traditional methods.
The exhibition brings together 25 rugs, many never seen in public before, alongside Nicholson鈥檚 sketches, postcards, tools, and archival material that offer a glimpse into her creative world. From farm animals to abstract designs, these vibrant works celebrate shared making, artistic exchange, and the enduring beauty of everyday materials.
Alongside the exhibition, works by five contemporary makers will be on display: Emma Tennant, Rafaele Appleby, Bertram and Elena Nicholson, Lu Mason, and Rachael Matthews; each of whom has drawn inspiration from Nicholson鈥檚 vision.
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