This March, Book Artist and PhD Researcher at Falmouth University, Vicki Aimers, will be returning to The Morrab for a week’s Artist Residency exploring textile stories in West Cornwall.

Her Residency will be titled ‘A Guiding Hand’ and draws directly from the Library’s collection using this photograph from our Photo Archive as the starting point. It depicts a late 19th-century governess to the Chown family, Marion Ash, sitting on a garden bench with the children. 

Dolly and Jack Chown with Marion Ash learning to sew in the garden.

Vicki says “Marion’s story provides insight into the often-overlooked experiences of governesses, touching on themes of emotional labour, isolation, and liminality. Inspired by these photographs, I will create a series of artist books that blend historical research with creative interpretation, bringing hidden narratives like Marion’s to light and encouraging public engagement with this rich archival material.” 

Her PhD research focuses on the private education available to girls in Cornwall during the century, before the establishment of the Board and National Schools. 

Ahead of her residency, Vicki is inviting members of The Morrab Library to delve into their attics and family archives to share stories, memories and examples of any family samplers. 

She is particularly interested in those made in West Cornwall over the past century and is encouraging members to get in touch with her via email (vickiaimers@btinternet.com) or Instagram (@vicki_aimers). She would love to hear the stories of these special pieces of textiles in your life ahead of, and throughout her Residency (11th-15th March 2025).

We will be sharing more information about her Residency over the coming weeks but there will be workshops, a children’s activity, a talk, and more. We’ll share more information on these specific events soon.

Our first card shows a snowy Quay Street in Penzance in the 1950s, an image from our historic Photo Archive collection. The emulsion damage to the negative serves to enhance the chilly atmosphere in this photo. This card is now sold out.

Our next is a more recent, and quite rare, image of the library surrounded by snow, captured by our library assistant Harriet on the 18th January this year

Harriet also created our third card, The Morrab Gardens Christmas cats, inspired by our oft-seen furry visitors! This card is now sold out.

Library Assistant James has also contributed a design, inspired by a Christmas card in our Lamorna Birch scrapbook collection, an exciting new donation to the Photo Archive in 2024. This card is now sold out.