Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust exists to safeguard Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s archive of work and p Barns-Graham’s professional career spanned over 60 years.

The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust was established by the artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham in 1987. Born in St Andrews in 1912, Barns-Graham studied at Edinburgh College of Art during the 1930s before relocating to St Ives in 1940. There she became a key figure in the post-war British Modernist scene, alongside Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Peter Lanyon and Terry Frost. Although Barns-Graham never

lost touch with her Scottish roots, the link with her homeland was reinforced in 1960 when she inherited Balmungo House near St Andrews. Thereafter, she began dividing her time between Cornwall and Fife, establishing studios at either end of the country. During this time, she proved herself to be an artist of great variety and energy, constantly experimenting with different media, styles and themes. Upon her death in 2004, Barns-Graham left her estate to the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust. This organisation exists to safeguard the artist’s archive of work and promote her legacy, in addition to supporting contemporary artists, writers and researchers. The Trust is involved in a range of activities including exhibitions and loans of Barns-Graham’s work, creation of residency opportunities for artists and writers, and provision of bursaries and grants for students and researchers.

The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust exists to enhance the reputation and understanding of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham as one o...
20/08/2026

The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust exists to enhance the reputation and understanding of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham as one of Britain’s most significant 20th century artists, and through her legacy support young people and other individuals to fulfil their potential in the visual arts. The Trust is currently seeking two new Trustees to join its Board.

Who we are looking for:
We are looking for two Trustees who can provide new voices in line with the Trust’s aims and values, and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of life experiences. We’re particularly interested in hearing from those with experience of:
- managing finances and investments
- business experience
- art-focussed legal knowledge (e.g. copyright, intellectual property)

How to Express Interest:
Our Trustee Recruitment Pack contains further information about applying to become a Trustee. We ask for a short covering letter expressing your interest and reasons for applying to be submitted alongside your CV. The submission deadline is Friday 18 September.

For more information - https://www.barns-grahamtrust.org.uk/become-a-trustee/

NOW OPEN - at Museum Belvedere () just outside Heerenveen in NE Netherlands is the exhibition 'Wilhelmina Barns-Graham -...
18/08/2026

NOW OPEN - at Museum Belvedere () just outside Heerenveen in NE Netherlands is the exhibition 'Wilhelmina Barns-Graham - Nature in Motion' - the first ever substantial show of Barns-Graham's work outside the UK. A visit is highly recommended, the exhibition is superbly selected (by Feico Hoekstra) and beautifully presented and is accompanied by a brilliant catalogue with essays by Feico and Virginia Button. The Museum itself is a fantastic modern building sited in extensive parkland. Not to be missed!! (you have until 20 September!!)

https://www.museumbelvedere.nl/en/current/grote-zaal/

Its the last couple of days (last day Fri 14) of Lyon and Turnbull's 'A Celebration of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham' exhibiti...
12/08/2026

Its the last couple of days (last day Fri 14) of Lyon and Turnbull's 'A Celebration of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham' exhibition at their London gallery at 20 Connaught Street, showcasing a fantastic small group of works coming up in sales in October. The display opened with a lively panel discussion with Alice Strang from L&T hosting Rob Airey from the WBG Trust and Lucy Myers from Lund Humphries talking about the publication of a new revised edition of Lynne Green’s essential monograph ‘Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: A Studio Life’ amongst other WBG related topics. The book is for sale during the duation of the exhibition Many thanks to all at L&T for hosting, to for his tremendous images of the event and to all who joined us.

For more informations - https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/events/celebrating-wilhelmina-barns-graham

Barns-Graham's 1999 coloured etching 'Eclipse', the only print she made with master printer Hugh Stoneman at his studio ...
12/08/2026

Barns-Graham's 1999 coloured etching 'Eclipse', the only print she made with master printer Hugh Stoneman at his studio in Madron near Penzance, created in respsonse to that year's total eclipse of the sun. If you're experiencing the eclipse today, please take all due precautions!!

THIS WEEK!! - join us at the Trust in Edinburgh (77 Brunswick St, EH7 5HS - entance on Brunswick Street not Brunswick Ro...
04/08/2026

THIS WEEK!! - join us at the Trust in Edinburgh (77 Brunswick St, EH7 5HS - entance on Brunswick Street not Brunswick Road) on Friday 7th August between 2pm and 5pm to explore Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s archive and celebrate the launch of the new edition of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: A Studio Life by Lynne Green.

Select items from the archive, curated by PhD student Mattea Gernentz who is currently undertaking a SGSAH internship at the WBG Trust will be on display. At 3pm, Mattea will also be leading an exploration of Barns-Graham’s artistic influences and international impact. Participants will engage with unique materials from the archive and pen their own response (in verse or prose) to Willie’s timeless art.

Fully stocked bookshop and refreshments available all afternoon! Just drop in - no booking required!

COMING SOON - celebrating the publication of the new edition of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: A Studio Life by Lynne Green, L...
30/07/2026

COMING SOON - celebrating the publication of the new edition of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: A Studio Life by Lynne Green, Lyon & Turnbull will be displaying in their London gallery at 20 Connaught Street, a group of works by the artist to be offered in their forthcoming October Modern Made and Prints / Editions auctions. The exhbition is open 4-14 August 2026 (10am-4pm, Mon-Fri).

The works on display span the period from 1959, with the painting Strung Forms, Spring, to two acrylic works on paper from the Scorpio Series of 1997, including this SCORPIO SERIES II, No. 38. The gouache Burnt Earth, 1960 will be seen in the company of an Untitled painting from the Firth of Forth Series.

For more information - https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/events/celebrating-wilhelmina-barns-graham

NOW AVAILABLE - a great new podcast featuring Alice Strang  appearing on Dr Karen Mailley's excellent  'Round the Studio...
24/07/2026

NOW AVAILABLE - a great new podcast featuring Alice Strang appearing on Dr Karen Mailley's excellent 'Round the Studios' podcast. Discussing the new re-print of the essential ‘Modern Scottish Women: Painters and Sculptors 1885-1965’ edited by Alice and featuring Barns-Graham. No hints, but during the podacst Alice reveals one of her all-time favourite paintings!

Image: Barns-Graham's 1945 painting - 'Studio Interior' currently on display at Museum Belvdeere in the Netherlands and to feature in the forthcoming Barns-Graham retrospective at tate St Ives, opening Sat 24 Oct.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/modern-scottish-women/id1896904297?i=1000777648231

COMING SOON - join us at the Trust in Edinburgh on Friday 7th August between 2pm and 5pm to explore Wilhelmina Barns-Gra...
17/07/2026

COMING SOON - join us at the Trust in Edinburgh on Friday 7th August between 2pm and 5pm to explore Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s archive and celebrate the launch of the new edition of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: A Studio Life by Lynne Green.

Select items from the archive, curated by PhD student Mattea Gernentz who is currently undertaking a SGSAH internship at the WBG Trust will be on display. Mattea will also be leading an exploration of Barns-Graham’s artistic influences and international impact. Participants will engage with unique materials from the archive and pen their own response (in verse or prose) to Willie’s timeless art.

Fully stocked bookshop and refreshments available all afternoon! Just drop in - no booking required!

The absolutely superb exhibition 'Wilhelmina Barns-Graham - Nature in Motion' at Museum Belvedere() in the Netherlands c...
15/07/2026

The absolutely superb exhibition 'Wilhelmina Barns-Graham - Nature in Motion' at Museum Belvedere() in the Netherlands continues until 20 September. It is the the first ever substantial show of Barns-Graham's work to be shown outside the UK and the first career-wide survey since 1989. A visit is highly recommended, the exhibition is superbly selected (by Feico Hoekstra) and beautifully presented and is accompanied by a brilliant catalogue with essays by Feico and Virginia Button. The Museum itself is a fantastic modern building sited in extensive parkland. Not to be missed!!

https://www.museumbelvedere.nl/en/current/grote-zaal/

Many congratulations to Annabel Wright for winning not only the 'Advertising and Commercial' section of the prestigious ...
03/07/2026

Many congratulations to Annabel Wright for winning not only the 'Advertising and Commercial' section of the prestigious V&A Illustration Awards for her wonderful poster for a community-led art exhibition at the Hunterian Art Gallery in Glasgow, but also being named the overall 'Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year' - a brilliant and richly deserved achievement!

In 2024 the WBG Trust published a childrens book looking at Barns-Graham's life, written and with activities devised by Kate Temple and with beautiful illustrations by Annabel - still available in the Trust online shop - not to be missed! https://buff.ly/79LAaAr

Address

77 Brunswick Street
Edinburgh
EH75HS

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