Details of the lecture

Towards the end of her life May Morris (1862-1938) – designer, craftsperson, and younger daughter of William Morris – wrote, ‘I’m a remarkable woman, always was, though none of you seem to think so’. Overshadowed in her lifetime by the achievements of her illustrious father, thankfully today May Morris is recognised as a leading figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement. Excelling in the field of embroidery, she was Head of Embroidery at Morris & Co. by the time she was twenty-three. May also designed wallpapers, made jewellery and was a talented amateur watercolour artist. She was instrumental in founding the Women’s Guild of Arts formed to support women working in the arts and crafts field at a time when they were excluded from similar organisations. A skilled editor, May spent her later years editing the 24 volumes of her father’s collected works.

Lecturer: Fiona Rose

Fiona Rose, theartssociety.org

Fiona Rose has been lecturing on topics she feels passionately about for 11 years. She has a BA in social psychology and aims to include the human story behind the artistic endeavours of her subjects. Her Arts Society lectures include Frida Kahlo: A Life in Art, An Overview of the Life & Works of William Morris, In the Garden with William Morris: Flora as Art, Through the Keyhole: The Homes of William Morris and Uncompromising Genius: The Life & Works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Fiona is the founder and owner of a home interiors business. She is a former trustee of The William Morris Society, where she was chair of its communications committee.