01/09/2026
Join us for a fascinating talk as part of Appledore Book Festival, 'Jovan Nicholson: Winifred Nicholson - Cumbrian Rag Rugs'.
A celebration of the inspirational work of British rag rug designer, Winifred Nicholson. Winifred’s grandson, Jovan Nicholson, will examine his grandmother’s relationship with the Cumbrian craft, the way in which she helped revive the tradition in the '60s and '70s, and her influence on contemporary makers. Winifred initially encountered rag rugs in the early 1920s, when, with her husband Ben Nicholson, she visited her neighbour Margaret Warwick, who sat in her kitchen making a rug from scraps of old clothing. When Winifred returned to Cumbria in 1960 she helped to revive the tradition and through her efforts, over a hundred new rugs were made. Richly illustrated throughout, the book is a treasure trove for anyone interested in textiles, naive art, British folk traditions, or mid-century craft.
Jovan Nicholson is an independent art historian and curator with a particular interest in modern British art. He is an acknowledged expert on Winifred Nicholson’s work, and is the grandson of Ben and Winifred Nicholson.
Saturday 19 September | 11am -12noon | £12
Book via Appledore Book Festival:
https://www.burtonartgallery.co.uk/blogs/workshops/appledore-book-festival-event
