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.

COMING SOON!! - Opening tomorrow (Thurs 1 Oct) at the wonderful Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh is a new exhibition - Wilh...
30/09/2026

COMING SOON!! - Opening tomorrow (Thurs 1 Oct) at the wonderful Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh is a new exhibition - Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: Printed Rhythms | Prints 1992-2004, featuring a dynamic selection of Barns-Graham's colorful and vibrant late career printmaking - not to be missed!!

The Scottish Gallery will also host a Book Launch of the new revised edition of Lynne Green's essential monograph focused on Barns-Graham's life & career, 'A Studio Life'
Thursday 8th October, 6-7.00pm. Join Gallery Director Tommy Zyw in conversation with Director of the WBG Trust Rob Airey as they discuss the revised edition of the book and explore the exhibition. Tickets are free but RSVP essential, please email: [email protected] to reserve your place.

The exhibition only runs until Sat 24 Oct so don't delay, full information here -
https://scottish-gallery.co.uk/whats-on/prints-2/artworks/

Great to see the forthcoming Barns-Graham exhibition at Tate St Ives trailed with two excellent articles in the latest e...
17/09/2026

Great to see the forthcoming Barns-Graham exhibition at Tate St Ives trailed with two excellent articles in the latest edition of the Tate Etc magazine, and not only that - it also comes in a special Barns-Graham envelope featuring a detail from one of her late screenprints made with Graal Press - 'Sunghrie I'. It is particularly satisfying that the two excellent short essays are both written by contemporary artists, Emii Alrai and Haroun Hayward. As Hayward states in his article she is a true 'painter's painter' - still relevant and able to inspire a younger generation of artists.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham at Tate St Ives will run 24 October 2026 – 3 May 2027 - https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/wilhelmina-barns-graham

LAST CHANCE!! to see at Museum Belvedere in the Netherlands is the exhibition 'Wilhelmina Barns-Graham - Nature in Motio...
14/09/2026

LAST CHANCE!! to see at Museum Belvedere in the 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!! (lasy day 20 September!!)

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

Photo credit Nico Gijsbers, courtesy Museum Belvédère

Its been quite sometime since we had a dedicated 'artist and her cat' post - with more of Barns-Graham's photographic ar...
01/09/2026

Its been quite sometime since we had a dedicated 'artist and her cat' post - with more of Barns-Graham's photographic archive being catalogued and scanned, further fine examples are coming to light! Here we see Barns-Graham with the beloved Eros, in the garden at Balmungo, probably in the first half of the 1980s.

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

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77 Brunswick Street
Edinburgh
EH75HS

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+441312097870

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