Amy Katherine Browning – Ancestral Roses

A. K. Browning was born at Bramingham Hall, Bedfordshire. Studied at the Royal College of Art under Gerald Moira, gaining scholarship to continue without paying. In 1904 she met a new student, Sylvia Pankhurst. Sylvia's mother, Emmeline, was the leader of the movement for women's suffrage, and her sister Christabel, was her right hand. Sylvia did a lot of work for the movement, drawing Amy Browning along with her as the suffrage movement became increasingly militant. Then she studied in Paris. Exhibited at the Salon in Paris, where she won gold and silver medals: the French Government bought two works for their Luxembourg Collection. Amy exhibited flower paintings at the Fine Art Society in 1925 and also showed at RA from 1906-1970, NEAC, NS, ROI and extensively abroad. Her work is included in many British provincial collections, including Manchester, Southampton and Glasgow. A retrospective exhibition was held at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich in 1995. There is a very useful book about Browning and her work, with excellent illustrations: Joanna Dunhams Amy K. Browning: An Impressionist in the Womens Movement.