Ӕlfgyva: The Mysterious Woman in the Bayeux Tapestry 30cm x 21cm Oil on canvas I’ve taken details from Ӕlfgyva section in the Bayeux Tapestry to create this painting. See last slide. ‘As a prime example of how women have been given little or no part in the story of the Norman Conquest, out of 626 human figures, there are only three women who appear in the main narrative of the Bayeux Tapestry. The most intriguing woman in the Bayeux Tapestry, appears in one scene when Harold is in Normandy in 1064. She is identified as ‘Ӕlfgyva’, the name sewn into the tapestry above her head. However, the scene does not appear to be related in any way to the scenes either before or after and has therefore caused much discussion and theorising among historians.’

Annie Mackin

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Annie Mackin creates ethereal oil paintings to celebrate the changing of the seasons filled with medieval and pagan allegory. Her work is about natural spirituality, femininity, inherent nostalgia and an innate link to our ancestors. She finds inspiration from the natural world, mysticism and ancient magical history, medieval history and legends. Influenced by the pagan festivals celebrated in Hastings, where she lives, Annie is also inspired by her Celtic ancestry, in particular pre Christian Ireland and goddesses worshipped then. The Celtic goddesses of the seasons and reverence and protection of the home have great importance to her work. Annie works mainly in pastel oil paints but also works layers other mediums; oil pastel, ink, watercolour and acrylic. Annie is co founder and co curator of the Hastings mother artist collective ‘Babes in arms’ which currently has a show at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on sea. She is also owner of a bookbinding and box-making studio UNIT 33 in Hastings, founded in July 2017 with her partner.