Annie ‘Nancy’ Mary Pryde Nicholson was a painter and fabric designer, and the only daughter of esteemed artists Sir William Nicholson (1872–1949) and Mabel Pryde (1871–1918).

She married the poet Robert Graves in 1918, although the relationship was not to last. She established Poulk Prints in 1929, and after a period living with poet Geoffrey Taylor in the 1930s, she set up and collaborated with him on the Poulk Press. During this time, she also worked with her brother Ben (1894–1982) and his wife, the artist and sculptor Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975), on numerous textile designs.

A lifelong feminist, Nicholson promoted contraception while it was still illegal, often cycling to villages and setting up stalls in the local area and setting up stalls to provide information and support for women.

During the 1940s, she had a shop on Motcomb Street in London where she printed and displayed her fabrics, and her work was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1976.

With thanks to artbiogs.co.uk

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