Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Tullie Museum in Carlisle to see their beautiful exhibition, Winifred Nicholson: Cumbrian Rag Rugs. As many of you know, I’m always on the lookout for stories and makers who’ve helped shape the rich history of rag rugging — and this exhibition did not disappoint. It was a heartfelt and vivid celebration of colour, creativity, and community spirit.
Who Was Winifred Nicholson?
For those who might not be familiar, Winifred Nicholson (1893–1981) was a renowned British painter best known for her luminous still lifes and landscapes. Much of her work was deeply inspired by the light and wild beauty of Cumbria, where she lived for many years at Bankshead in Lanercost. While she is often remembered as the wife of artist Ben Nicholson, her unique use of colour and expression stood entirely on its own — and has rightly earned her a celebrated place in British art history.
What’s perhaps less well-known is her role in supporting and employing local Cumbrian women in the 1920s and 30s to make rag rugs — the very art form we know and love at Ragged Life.
Reviving a Forgotten Craft
The exhibition at Tullie focuses on this lesser-explored part of Winifred’s legacy. During a time when economic hardship gripped rural communities, Nicholson helped revive the tradition of rag rug making (focussing mainly on the loopy, rug hooked technique), commissioning local women to create rugs often based on her colour sketches and patterns. These were not just practical floor coverings — they were artistic expressions in their own right.
It was incredibly moving to see how this collaboration blurred the lines between “fine art” and “folk craft” — something we’re passionate about at Ragged Life. The rugs on display show a rich mix of texture, improvisation, and joyful use of colour, much like Nicholson’s own paintings.
My Highlights from the Exhibition
The exhibition, Winifred Nicholson: Cumbrian Rag Rugs, was a wonderful mix of heritage, artistry, and heart. What I particularly loved was how it not only focused on Winifred Nicholson’s own role in the revival of rag rug making in the early 20th century, but also celebrated the wider circle of family and friends who contributed designs, ideas and enthusiasm to this shared creative pursuit. It felt like a true community endeavour, rooted in rural life and artistic curiosity. For me, it was also a lovely reminder that rag rug making has always been about more than just craft — it’s about connection, creativity and community, much like our fortnightly Rag Rug Coffee Mornings in Hertfordshire, where we continue this spirit by gathering together to share stories, inspiration, and a good cup of tea while we rag rug side by side.
The layout of the exhibition gently guided you through a timeline of rag rug design — beginning with earlier pieces from around the 1920s dominated by animals and folk imagery, and gradually transitioning into more experimental and contemporary works as you moved further in. There was a sense of both tradition and innovation on display, with each rug telling its own quiet story. One corner had a hands-on section for children with plastic mesh and fabric strips. (Although, I must admit — the purist in me would have loved to see some proper hessian there instead!)
Below are some of the earlier animal design rag rugs, which I have to say were some of my personal favourites…
“Dancing Panther Cub”
One piece that completely stopped me in my tracks was the “Dancing Panther Cub” rug. It had such a sense of rhythm and energy — the little cub seemed to leap right out of the fabric with its playfully prancing limbs. It was inspired by a textile fragment from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, which Winifred had seen printed in a newspaper clipping. I found that so fascinating — the idea of seeing something fleeting, half a world away, and taking that as inspiration. It just goes to show that an idea can come from the most unexpected of places!
“Sheep”
Another favourite of mine was the charming and quirky “Sheep”. For me, sheep are synonymous with Cumbria, so it wouldn’t have been a local rag rug exhibition without one! I thought the background was meticulously crafted and colour coordinated to perfection (just look at those colours in the bottom left corner!) Less insightful, but I liked how low slung the sheep was with its little legs so close to the ground.
Both pieces perfectly captured what I love about rag rugging: the ability to create something fun and expressive out of the humblest of materials. These were not rugs to be hidden away — they were bold, storytelling artworks with lives of their own.
“The Sun and the Moon”
Another rug that caught my eye was this sun and moon piece, displayed behind glass. I found it interesting how starkly the two scenes were divided down the middle – something you’d normally avoid doing when making an artwork or rug! It was bursting with purples, yellows, and blue — colours straight from one of Nicholson’s landscape paintings.
1960s+ Rag Rugs: Tradition Meets Experimentation
The back of the gallery focused on rag rugs made from the 1960s onward. This section really showed how rag rug making continued to evolve — blending traditional techniques with new ideas, materials, and artistic approaches.
Here there were later works designed by Winifred Nicholson, as well as rugs created by her family and friends — each piece brimming with colour, character and personal expression. The designs in this section feel more experimental, drawing from modern art, graphic motifs, and abstract compositions.
There are also some fabulous contemporary rag rugs included, showing how today’s makers (us included) are continuing the legacy — reinterpreting rag rug techniques in exciting, boundary-pushing ways. It’s a brilliant reminder that while rag rugging is steeped in tradition, it’s also a living, breathing art form that still has so much to offer.
Here are some of the other pieces from the exhibition…
A Must-Visit for Textile Lovers
If you’re at all interested in rag rug history, British art, or female makers, I can’t recommend this exhibition enough. It’s not only a reminder of the power of handmade craft to bring people together, but also an inspiring example of how rag rugging can be elevated to fine art — something we strive to highlight every day at Ragged Life.
🗓️ Winifred Nicholson: Cumbrian Rag Rugs runs at Tullie, Carlisle until 15th June 2025 and a smaller version of the exhibition featuring twenty four rugs will be on show at the Hub in Sleaford, Lincolnshire from 19th July to 16th November 2025. Jovan Nicholson will be giving an exhibition tour on 19th July, which would be a real treat if you’re free. It’s a one-of-a-kind show so don’t miss out!
A special shout out to Diane at Tullie, who took the time to speak with me and my mum Victoria after the exhibition — she was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and clearly passionate about Cumbrian history!
Let’s Keep the Legacy Going
As I walked around the exhibition, I couldn’t help but feel proud of all of you — our wonderful community of rag ruggers — who are keeping this incredible tradition alive with every scrap, snip, and stitch.
If you do go and visit, I’d love to hear your thoughts or if you can’t make it then which were your favourite pieces from the exhibition based on what I’ve shared? Please do comment below! And if you can’t make it to Carlisle, don’t worry — I’ve come away buzzing with ideas, and I’ll be developing some Winifred-inspired projects and colour palettes in the coming months.
Want to learn how to rag rug? Check out our Ragged Life rag rug classes and kits on our main website here.
Happy rug making,
Elspeth x