Working in the Economic Botany Collection at Kew Gardens, I was shown a collection of objects made from lace-bark (Lagetto lagetta), a material resembling a fine gauze, obtained from the inner bark of a tree native to the limestone forests of Central Jamaica. On further reading I learned of its complex history: It was written about in some of the earliest writings about Jamaica, such as in Hans Sloane’s A Voyage to Jamaica and subsequent accounts until the early 20th Century. The items at Kew are mostly Victorian era souvenirs – slippers, fans and bonnets – however, I learned that the material once had great domestic significance domestically. Following in the path of other researchers, I travelled to Jamaica to meet the descendants of the last producers.

This residency was awarded by the Royal Drawing School, and funded by their supporters Theresa and Andrew Roberts.