Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

Explore the colourful world of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, one of Britain’s most significant 20th century artists, within the pages of this extraordinary monograph – the first to chart the full length of her incredible career.

One of the most innovative British artists of the 20th century, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham communicated her physical, emotional and spiritual responses to the world around her through her work. This was particularly true of her deep connection with the landscapes of Cornwall, Scotland and continental Europe. She carved out a vibrant style of abstract painting known for its energetic rhythms and bold colour.

Featuring over 170 paintings, drawings, prints and archive materials, and contributions from experts on her life and practice, this publication traces Barns-Graham’s development from her student days at the Edinburgh College of Art and early years in St Ives, where she found her place in a lively community of painters and sculptors, through to her later years working between Cornwall and Scotland, concluding with a focus on her singular Scorpio series, created in her final two decades.