Talk Schedule: 27th February 2026, 6pm
The Life & Work of May Morris: “A Remarkable Woman”
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.
Bio Fiona Rose
Fiona Rose has been lecturing about topics she feels passionately about since 2010 including William Morris, his daughter May Morris and their circle, Frida Kahlo, and Frank Lloyd Wright. She has a BA in Social Psychology and aims to include the human story behind the artistic endeavours of her subjects.
After an early career in public health Fiona founded and runs a home interiors business featuring the work of the great C19th designers such as Morris, Voysey and Mackintosh. She is a former Trustee of The William Morris Society and a member of their Museum Collections Committee. Fiona is a peer reviewer for the Journal of William Morris Studies and a volunteer tour guide and specialist lecturer with the David Parr House in Cambridge.
Organised by
This talk is organised by the Friends of the Gordon Russell Design Museum, and profits will help to support the continuing work of the Museum. Further details can be found on our website www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum.org
This talk is organised by the Friends of the Gordon Russell Design Museum, and profits will help to support the continuing work of the Museum. Further details can be found on our website www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum.org