Loraine Monk’s striking exhibition of black and white linoprints, woodcuts and banners depicting the life and work of Denise Wren, one of Britain’s first female studio potters, runs at Kingston Museum until January 11.

Loraine, a former Bond Road resident, is artist in residence at the museum in Wheatfield Way; her work inspired by social history, community and protest.

Expressionist textile banners and prints hang in the stairwell and on panels with images of Wren at the wheel, her fellow Knox Guild members, floral designs and scenes such as the opening of Kingston’s Women’s Social and Political Union (suffragette) branch in 1914, just off the marketplace.

The figurative artist who is also a lecturer, researcher and printer, was inspired by Wren’s pioneering work and the fact that she and other students took a stand and quit Kingston School of Arts in 1912 after the resignation of their mentor, art nouveau designer Archibald Knox, following criticism of his teaching methods. The women set up the Knox Guild the same year, renting a shop as a craft co-op. “I hung the whole idea of researching her life on the fact that they were suffragettes, and young women; crafts people working together,” said Loraine. “I was also attracted to the fact that the theme for the exhibition was about Women and Design.”

The Knox Guild exhibited in Kingston’s Art Gallery in 1914, then annually from 1919-1935. Because of the local connection, the museum has a large archive of Wren’s work including photos, ceramics, designs, notebooks and letters which are also on display in Kingston.