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, and 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 for her 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 such as 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 the companies 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. This act of enduring generosity was what seeded the idea for this exhibition that explores is what we inherit from our mothers, how we collaborate with our siblings, and what is passed on to our daughters.

To accompany 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 new installation reflects on the passing of time and how this can be traced through relative ties.  

The exhibition is 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.  

Exhibition Supporters

Wimhurst Muller Trust

Porthmeor Fund