The Story of a Fairy Family.
Pride of Place in the Artists’ Town
25th July - 19th October 2025, Kirkcudbright Galleries
After 2 years of research and development our Creative Director DJ McDowall has co-curated and produced this inspiring new exhibition revealing the gender non-conforming, and queer histories of a group of incredible women who spent their summers in Kirkcudbright, living freely as a Fairy Family. They reveal the inner workings of their lives together in a book they co-created called ‘The Story of a Fairy Family’.
*All images and artwork are reproduced here with permission from Private Collections, relevant Art Gallieries + The Women’s Library, LSE
Coming Out of the Archives and into the frame, is this new exhibition celebrating the bohemian lives of the women artists who spent their summers, in the early 20th century, in the Artist’s Town of Kirkcudbright, .
With a particular focus on Dorothy Johnstone, Vera ‘Jack’ Holme, Anne Finlay and Cecile Walton we bring together for the first time artefacts including artworks, diaries, letters and photographs, which reveal their story in their own words and imagery.
This exhibition has been created in collaboration with DJ McDowall of The Imaginarium, Kirkcudbright Galleries and co-produced with young people from Kirkcudbright Academy, with the generous support of The Holywood Trust.
Meet the Fairy Family
Dorothy ‘Dodo’ Johnstone
Anne ‘Spook’ Finlay
Vera ‘Jack’ Holme
Cecile ‘Ghost’ Walton
A Companion Film
Produced especially for this exhibition, this short film offers a deeper look into the intertwining lives of Dorothy Johnstone, Vera ‘Jack’ Holme, Cecile Walton, and Anne Finlay.
Blending archival material with location-based footage, it features reflections from family members, author Wendy Moore, and local Kirkcudbright community members on the lives and times of these women artists, the significance and ongoing resonance of their story today.
Co-produced by DJ McDowall, The Imaginarium + Kirkcudbright Galleries
Filmed by Studio 105
Featuring interviews led by local young people
2025
“The Story of a Fairy Family - A Companion Film” trailer
"One of the most effective exhibitions I have ever seen."
"A Triumph! Superb + Enlightening."
"Absolutely riveting and delightful."
"Moving + Inspirational."
"Amazing!"
"One of the most effective exhibitions I have ever seen." "A Triumph! Superb + Enlightening." "Absolutely riveting and delightful." "Moving + Inspirational." "Amazing!"
"An unexpected gem."
"Brava! More of this please."
"Beautiful Storytelling."
"Evocative + very informative"
"A most fascinating and joyful exhibition."
"An unexpected gem." "Brava! More of this please." "Beautiful Storytelling." "Evocative + very informative" "A most fascinating and joyful exhibition."
"What a fantastic exhibition. Thank You!"
"Brilliantly researched + communicated."
"Moving + important"
"Beautifully articulated + presented."
"What a fantastic exhibition. Thank You!" "Brilliantly researched + communicated." "Moving + important" "Beautifully articulated + presented."
UPCOMING FAIRY FAMILY EVENTS . . .
Saturday 26th July
2pm
Kirkcudbright Galleries
Join author Wendy Moore for this fascinating talk on Vera 'Jack' Holme, Dorothy Johnstone and Bohemian Life in Kirkcudbright.
Vera ‘Jack’ Holme was a cross-dressing actress who became official chauffeur to suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. In the First World War, Jack and her long-time partner, Evelina Haverfield, travelled to Serbia, Russia and Romania where they ran field hospitals and drove ambulances under bombardment. But when peace came Jack found a tranquil refuge in Kirkcudbright with Scottish painter Dorothy Johnstone, and a bohemian circle of fellow artists.
Wendy Moore, author of 'Jack and Eve: Two Women in Love and at War', talks about these remarkable women who defied convention at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Wendy Moore is a freelance journalist and author of five previous books on medical and social history.
THE STORY OF A FAIRY FAMILY WALKING TOUR
Thurs 28th August
6pm
Kirkcudbright Galleries
Find out more about the lives of Dorothy Johnstone, Vera ‘Jack’ Holme, Anne Finlay and Cecile Walton in Kirkcudbright in the early 20th Century by retracing their steps through the artists’ town, led by the young co-producers of the exhibition, and co-curators Madeleine Conn & DJ McDowall.
Duration 1.5- 2 hours.
The tour will start from the front of Kirkcudbright Galleries.
Please note that the tour will be mostly flat, but will include a steep incline, and some uneven ground (cobblestones). If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact Madeleine Conn at Kirkcudbright Galleries to discuss (01557 331276).
THE STORY OF A FAIRY FAMILY WALKING TOUR
Sat 30th August
11am
Kirkcudbright Galleries
Find out more about the lives of Dorothy Johnstone, Vera ‘Jack’ Holme, Anne Finlay and Cecile Walton in Kirkcudbright in the early 20th Century by retracing their steps through the artists’ town, led by the young co-producers of the exhibition, and co-curators Madeleine Conn & DJ McDowall.
Duration 1.5- 2 hours.
The tour will start from the front of Kirkcudbright Galleries.
Please note that the tour will be mostly flat, but will include a steep incline, and some uneven ground (cobblestones). If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact Madeleine Conn at Kirkcudbright Galleries to discuss (01557 331276).
AUTHORS TALK with Wendy Moore
