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