Relative Ties: Mabel Nicholson, Nancy Nicholson, EQ Nicholson and Louisa Creed

Relative Ties celebrates over a century of artistic innovation and inheritance, tracing the work of four women from the celebrated Nicholson family — Mabel Nicholson, Nancy Nicholson, EQ Nicholson and Louisa Creed. The exhibition explores how creativity is woven together through three generations of women artists. Spanning a period of 100 years, Relative Ties brings together artworks, interior designs, paper ephemera, wallpapers, fabrics, stencils and other tools to offer a unique insight into the working lives of these artists.

The exhibition begins with Mabel Nicholson (1871–1918), who frequently painted her children as a way to combine her role as a mother with her life as an artist. Nancy Nicholson (1899–1977) inherited her mother's independence and artistic eye. A pioneer of textile design and founder of her printing and design company Poulk Press, Nancy's hand-printed fabrics are playful in their design and meticulous in their production. She sought inspiration from things found close to home — her children and her garden. On display are her original lino blocks, stencils, and letterpress designs — a rare glimpse into her creative process.

Working alongside Nancy was her sister-in-law EQ Nicholson (1908–1992), a designer and painter whose bold, modern patterns were produced by Cole and Son, Edinburgh Weavers, Borderline, and famously featured aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. EQ's artistry bridged fine art and design, blending hand-drawn precision with industrial innovation.

Completing this family story is Louisa Creed (b. 1937), EQ's daughter, whose richly textured rag rugs continue the family's legacy of craft. Her vibrant textile works, made entirely by hand, celebrate material, memory and the power of women's work. In 2004, Hunting Cat was donated to The Women's Art Collection by Louisa Creed together with Jugs and Quinces by her mother EQ Nicholson — an act of generosity that seeded the idea for this exhibition.

Accompanying Relative Ties is a new commission by contemporary artist Katie Schwab (b.1985), whose work explores the relationships between generations of women and their shared creative approaches. Inspired by ribbons — a recurring motif in Nancy Nicholson's designs — Schwab's installation reflects on the passing of time and how it can be traced through relative ties.

Curated by Harriet Loffler, Curator of The Women's Art Collection, with curatorial support from Laura Moseley. A fully illustrated publication accompanies the exhibition with contributions by Tim Nicholson, Harriet Loffler, Jes Fernie and Katie Schwab, published by Paul Holberton Publishing.