Yvadney Davis

Yvadney Davis, who lives and works in South London, intertwines her Caribbean British heritage with themes of nostalgia, lineage and belonging in her figurative art practice.  With a BA in Fashion from Central Saint Martins, her work resonates with personal and cultural history.  Davis’s solo exhibition, “Proverbs of a Windrush Child,” at the Black Cultural Archives in London, poignantly captures the spirit of her heritage.  Her numerous group exhibitions include “Plurality Now” at 198 Contemporary Arts, London, “Black and Bold” at M&C Saatchi, London, and “ING: Discerning Eye” at Mall Galleries, London. She was a semi-finalist in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 and received the Women United Art Prize for Painting in 2022.  Davis’s art is a heartfelt exploration of her roots and experiences, connecting deeply with audiences.


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In the gallery:

1

Five into a Hundred

As one of five portraits of Pawlet Brookes MBE, the curator of 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark,…
1

A right side profile portrait of Black woman with short loose curly afro hair, wearing a green textured jumper, sharing a serene expression against an orange background.

Five into a Hundred

Pawlet Brookes MBE

As one of five portraits of Pawlet Brookes MBE, the curator of 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark, it provides a snapshot of what the exhibition sought to achieve, with each portrait acting as the artist’s signature and an introduction to their individual technique and style.

Yvadney Davis takes the portrait in profile, focusing on a rich likeness and embracing the sitter’s energy and style.

Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on wallpaper canvas
Size: 68cm x 56cm x 3cm

2

Defining For Herself

Educator and activist, Leila Hassan Howe was a founding member of the Black Unity and Freedom Party, which challenged the…
2

A Black woman with short white afro hair with a calm expression, wearing dropped blue tassel earrings and a deep blue jacket with text that says 'Race Today' and 'Here to Stay, Here to Fight'. The text is accompanied with abstract white lines, which is complimented by the graphite wallpaper background.

Defining For Herself

Leila Hassan Howe

Educator and activist, Leila Hassan Howe was a founding member of the Black Unity and Freedom Party, which challenged the idea of Black people as third-class citizens.  The party also lead demonstrations, including the National Black People’s Day of Action in response to the death of 13 young people in the New Cross house fire.  The 20,000 people strong demonstration is considered a turning point Black British identity and was the largest of it’s kind at the time.  As a significant leader for racial justice, Hassan Howe also campaigned to Arts Council England to recognise the Notting Hill Carnival as an art form and was a member of Race Today Collective.

Medium: Acrylic and chrome ink on wallpaper canvas
Size: 76.5cm x 60.5cm x 3.5cm

3

All that She Governs is Golden

1929-2020 Not only was Dame Jocelyn Barrow the first Black woman to be made governor of the BBC and earn…
3

A full face portrait of a Black woman, wearing a black suit jacket and top, outlined in white. She shares a serene expression. On her left shoulder sits a golden scarf. Various tones of browns, pinks and whites are used to make up the skin.

All that She Governs is Golden

Dame Jocelyn Barrow OBE DBE

1929-2020

Not only was Dame Jocelyn Barrow the first Black woman to be made governor of the BBC and earn the title of damehood, she was an educator, director, broadcaster, politician and ultimately a driver for change.  While studying her Master’s, she began the Each One Teach One organisation to give additional education support to Caribbean households.  She was also a founding member, general secretary and vice-chair of Campaign Against Racial Discrimination, which lobbied for race relation legislation, leading to the Race Relations Act of 1968.

Medium: Acrylic and foil leaf on canvas
Size: 70cm x 50cm x 1.5cm

4

In The Front Line

1938 – 2021 In 1968, Sislin Fay Allen began her training with the Metropolitan Police, from which she became the…
4

A Black woman positioned to the right side of the linen canvas, wears a black police uniform holding a small stack of paper. In the background are two painted white police in helmets with expressionless faces and the rest of the uniform is a simple black outline.

In The Front Line

Sislin Fay Allen

1938 – 2021

In 1968, Sislin Fay Allen began her training with the Metropolitan Police, from which she became the first Black woman police constable in the United Kingdom.  Allen served in the Metropolitan Police in London from 1968 – 1972 before returning to Jamaica to continue her career in the Jamaican Constabulary.  In 2020, Allen received the lifetime achievement award by the National Black Police Association.

Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on linen canvas
Size: 116cm x 86cm x 2cm

5

First, She Sang to Me

Internationally renowned soprano Singer and Artistic Director of Pegasus Opera Company, Alison Buchanan is currently the only Black British female…
5

A Black woman with short afro hair in a red full length gown sits positioned to the left side on a yellow with blue and red centred circles patterned sofa, with her forearm and elbow resting on the arm of the chair. She looks to left providing a profile view of her face. She also wears dropped earrings, rings and a bracelet. The soft floral gold wallpaper complements the sitter in the foreground.

First, She Sang to Me

Alison Buchanan

Internationally renowned soprano Singer and Artistic Director of Pegasus Opera Company, Alison Buchanan is currently the only Black British female Artistic Director of an opera company in the UK.  Pegasus was originally created to provide opportunities for artists of African and Asian heritage and to promote opera in culturally diverse communities by Buchanan’s late friend, Lloyd Newton.

Medium: Acrylic and oil pastel on wallpaper canvas
Size: 120cm x 102cm x 4cm

6

In This Space

Selasi Setufe is an architect.  In 2022, Setufe was awarded an MBE for services to diversity in architecture. Medium: Acrylic,…
6

This portrait depicts a Black woman with shoulder length large twists black hair, wearing a white top and black trousers standing facing the left showing a three-quarter profile of her face and a gold small hooped earring showing. Sharing a calm but confident expression with her hands resting in her trouser pockets. Two tones of textured browns have been used with an off centre lighter brown strip highlighting the sitters attire.

In This Space

Selasi Setufe MBE

Selasi Setufe is an architect.  In 2022, Setufe was awarded an MBE for services to diversity in architecture.

Medium: Acrylic, chrome ink and charcoal on wood
Size: 57.5cm x 40cm x 1.7cm

7

Medusa was a Black Woman

As a performance artist and poet, Dorothea Smartt’s work has been deeply inspired by Black women’s hair, the transformations and…
7

A Black woman with short afro hair is positioned to the right of the canvas and she shares a calm expression. She wears a white V-neck top and a gold drop earring. This soft palette neutral background features a deep orange blocked text 'Medusa was a Black Woman' and other smaller text dotted around the background.

Medusa was a Black Woman

Dorothea Smartt FRSL

As a performance artist and poet, Dorothea Smartt’s work has been deeply inspired by Black women’s hair, the transformations and imagery that surround it and the perceptions and assumptions that have overshadowed its beauty.  Smartt has also worked as a lecturer of Creative Arts at Birkbeck college, University of London and Leeds University and regularly facilitates international poetry workshops.  She has performed in locations such as Hungary, Jamaica, The Netherlands, Egypt, USA and Slovenia.

Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 81cm x 61cm x 2cm

8

Wildly Forked Road

Award winning playwright, poet and novelist, Jackie Kay is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University.  She uses her…
8

A charcoal drawing on linen canvas of a Black woman with short afro hair with her head slightly turned to the left but her eyes focus to the right side. She wears a triangular and semi-circled patterned V-neck t-shirt, dropped gold circle earrings and thick framed black glasses.

Wildly Forked Road

Professor Jackie Kay CBE FRSE FRSL

Award winning playwright, poet and novelist, Jackie Kay is currently Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University.  She uses her unconventional upbringing in her poetry.  Kay was also appointed as Scotland’s third Makar, Scottish poet laureate from 2016 – 2021 and took it as her greatest honour in becoming Scotland’s National Poet.

Medium: Charcoal and wallpaper on linen canvas
Size: 67cm x 51.5cm x 2cm

9

Strive for Justice

Liverpool’s first Community Relations Officer, Dorothy Kuya fought for the establishment of a permanent museum that recognised Liverpool’s involvement in…
9

A Black woman with short afro hair looks down to the left smiling. She wears a pink and white patterned top against a pale pink background with small red words 'The past influences the way we lead our lives now and in the future.'

Strive for Justice

Dorothy Kuya

Liverpool’s first Community Relations Officer, Dorothy Kuya fought for the establishment of a permanent museum that recognised Liverpool’s involvement in slavery, which lead to the creation of the International Slavery Museum.  Kuya was also a feminist, activist and teacher.  She co-founded Teachers Against Racism and became general secretary of the National Assembly of Women (NAW), where she challenged the organisation’s diversity and encouraged other local women to become actively involved in the NAW.

Medium: Charcoal and wallpaper on linen canvas
Size: 91cm x 67cm x 2cm

10

Air That I Breathe

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah had worked in education in London where she eventually became a deputy headteacher.  In 2013, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s daughter Ella…
10

A profile painting of a Black woman with braids and a yellow, blue, green, white and orange headscarf at the front of her hair, wearing a matching top and small black framed glasses. set against a light blue background, highlighting the various tones of brown, pink and orange within the skin.

Air That I Breathe

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah had worked in education in London where she eventually became a deputy headteacher.  In 2013, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s daughter Ella suffered a fatal asthma attack at the age of nine.  This led to Adoo-Kissi-Debrah to find the truth behind her daughter’s death, which resulted in finding out that they lived in one of the most polluted areas of London and the toxic air worsened her daughter’s asthma.  This led to Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah campaigning for the Clean Air Human Rights Bill or Ella’s Law.  Ella was the first person in England to have air pollution named as a cause of death by a coroner.  Ella’s Law aims to protect the public against air pollution, the health hazards it possesses and establishing clean air as a human right.

Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on wallpaper canvas
Size: 80cm x 60cm x 2cm

11

An Audience with Dame Elizabeth

Working as a nurse, educator and healthcare administrator, Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu became the first sickle cell and thalassemia nurse…
11

A Black woman sits in a slightly off centre position with her left hand and forearm resting on a wooden table with a deep red table cloth and flowers laid on top. She wears a light blue dress with silver embellishments, a silver necklace, light framed glasses and a silver headwrap. She has her left hand placed on her left knee and various medals pinned to the left side of her dress, complimented by a light green background.

An Audience with Dame Elizabeth

Professor Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu OM DBE FRCN

Working as a nurse, educator and healthcare administrator, Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu became the first sickle cell and thalassemia nurse counsellor in the United Kingdom.  Anionwu co-founded The Sickle Cell Society in 1979, the first centre of its kind in the UK and received her PhD from University College London.

Medium: Acrylic and chrome ink on canvas
Size: 86cm x 70cm x 3.5cm

12

Possibility of Flight

1918 – 2015 Lilian Bader was believed to be the first Black woman to serve in the RAF, enlisting in…
12

A Black woman with short afro hair wears a deep blue RAF uniform, including a white shirt, black tie and cap with a silver badge as she shares a joyful smile. In the background are red and yellow flowers with green stems and leaves against a green tonal geometric patterned wallpaper.

Possibility of Flight

Lilian Bader

1918 – 2015

Lilian Bader was believed to be the first Black woman to serve in the RAF, enlisting in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force after Una Marson’s announcement that the RAF were taking people of West Indian descent during her Hello West Indies radio broadcast.  Bader passed her exam to begin instrument repair, one of the first women to do so, became Leading Aircraft Women and was finally promoted to Acting Corporal.

Medium: Acrylic on wallpaper canvas
Size: 61cm x 61cm x 1cm

13

Blue Denby

Leicester’s first Black nursing officer, Agnes Nisbett, set-up the pioneering programme Born While Sleeping at Leicester Royal Infirmary.  After experiencing…
13

A Black woman with short white loose afro hair sits on a stool positioned slightly to the left, providing a three-quarter profile portrait. She wears a royal blue dress, gold earrings, a necklace, bracelets and rings. Her hands are resting on her lap as she shares a knowing smile. There are various shapes of wallpaper to the right side of her with a muddy green painted background.

Blue Denby

Agnes Nisbett

Leicester’s first Black nursing officer, Agnes Nisbett, set-up the pioneering programme Born While Sleeping at Leicester Royal Infirmary.  After experiencing a stillbirth herself, Nisbett was passionate to provide better care and support for future mothers.  The programme offers a separate room away from other mothers and babies on the ward to provide space to grieve as well as providing additional care.

Medium: Acrylic, gold ink and wallpaper on linen
Size: 80cm x 67.5cm x 2cm

14

All that she Does

Brenda Emmanus’ career journey has covered a broad range of subjects on national television, from news broadcasting on Channel Four,…
14

A seated Black woman with long black hair smiling who is wearing a pink dress, with various floral patterns in the background.

All that she Does

Brenda Emmanus OBE

Brenda Emmanus’ career journey has covered a broad range of subjects on national television, from news broadcasting on Channel Four, BBC and Granada; to her role as Arts, Culture and Entertainment Correspondent for BBC London News.  Emmanus has interviewed some of the biggest celebrity names and is also dedicated to diversity and encouraging women and Black people to pursue the arts.

Medium: Acrylic, wallpaper and foil leaf on linen
Size: 115cm x 106cm x 5cm

15

The Inimitable Mrs Morton

Nurse and teacher, Elvy Morton has made an impact in Leicester for questioning the lack of engagement with Black culture…
15

A seated Black woman with short black hair wearing a light blue dress with a book in her lap, with geometric patterns and gold circles in the background.

The Inimitable Mrs Morton

Elvy Morton

Nurse and teacher, Elvy Morton has made an impact in Leicester for questioning the lack of engagement with Black culture and its history and making Black history more accessible for young people.  After discovering that the 150-year anniversary of the emancipation of slavery in the West Indies was to go uncelebrated in 1984, Morton took the role of Founding Chair of Leicester Caribbean Carnival, which then took place in 1985.  Morton chaired 18 carnivals until her retirement.

Medium: Charcoal, acrylic and gold ink on wallpaper
Size: 131cm x 112cm x 3cm

16

It is Worth Fighting For

Actress, author and Life Peer, Baroness Lola Young introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty Bill and helped pass…
16

A Black woman with white braids wearing a red shirt and black waistcoat and pieces of a Bill are a part of the dark blue background.

It is Worth Fighting For

Baroness Lola Young OBE

Actress, author and Life Peer, Baroness Lola Young introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty Bill and helped pass the Modern Slavery (Transparency in Supply Chains) Bill.  Young has also worked as a lecturer in Media Studies at the Polytechnic of West London and a Principal Lecturer and Professor of Cultural Studies and Emeritus Professor at Middlesex University.  In 2020, Young was made Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.

Medium: Acrylic, paper, chrome ink on linen
Size: 95cm x 49cm x 3.5cm

17

Mona, A National Treasure

1931 – 2022 Actress and co-founder of the Talawa Theatre Company, Mona Hammond was recognised as one of the most…
17

A Black woman with short brown hair wearing black and her silhouette is surrounded with gold letters that list the names of characters.

Mona, A National Treasure

Mona Hammond OBE

1931 – 2022

Actress and co-founder of the Talawa Theatre Company, Mona Hammond was recognised as one of the most significant actors of her generation.  Hammond pushed for equality in casting before the term ‘colour blind casting’ was invented.  Hammond was the first Black actress to play Lady Macbeth in Peter Coe’s production of the first all-Black Macbeth in the UK.

Medium: Acrylic and gold ink on linen
Size: 77cm x 71cm x 3.5cm

18

The Formidable SuAndi

Award winning performance poet, writer and arts curator, SuAndi’s work has taken her across the UK and into Europe, North…
18

A Black woman with long black hair with her hand resting on her left cheek wearing a blue patterned top and silver jewellery against a light blue background with the words 'I do not attempt to follow my form. I believe the poet is life's narrator.'

The Formidable SuAndi

SuAndi OBE D'Litt D'Art FRSL

Award winning performance poet, writer and arts curator, SuAndi’s work has taken her across the UK and into Europe, North America, Brazil and Africa.  Her piece ‘The Story of M’ is also now studied as part of the A Level curriculum.  SuAndi is also co-founder of BlackScribe, the first North Western Black women’s writing collective and she is the freelance Cultural Director of National Black Arts Alliance.

Medium: Acrylic and chrome ink on canvas
Size: 75cm x 61cm x 3cm

 

19

An Ode to Leonora

1963 – 2021 Dancer, teacher and choreographer, Leonora Stapleton had three decades in professional dance across America and the UK. …
19

A Black woman with voluminous black hair wearing a gold headdress and dress and she is holding the lower part of her dress and she is captured in a moment of movement against a red background.

An Ode to Leonora

Leonara Stapleton

1963 – 2021

Dancer, teacher and choreographer, Leonora Stapleton had three decades in professional dance across America and the UK.  Stapleton performed on Broadway in the original Lion King cast and as Associate Choreographer of Tarzan.  She also toured with multiple companies including Donald Byrd, Jubilation! and Dance Theatre of Harlem.  As Director of Be Body Aware, Stapleton also encouraged using dance and exercise for well-being.

Medium: Acrylic and wallpaper on linen
Size: 65cm x 65cm x 3cm

20

Deep in my Mind

1934 – 2008 Louise Da-Cocodia is remembered for her activism in raising education, housing and employment standards for Manchester’s residents. …
20

A Black woman smiling wearing black glasses, and a blue geometric patterned hat and outfit and her silhouette is surrounded by the words 'Deep in my mind
is my commitment to bridge the gap which has led to the blacks being treated as inferior' against a black background.

Deep in my Mind

Louise Da-Cocodia MBE BEM JP DL

1934 – 2008

Louise Da-Cocodia is remembered for her activism in raising education, housing and employment standards for Manchester’s residents.  Despite her success in becoming Manchester’s first Black senior nursing officer, Da-Cocodia still faced discrimination and racism from colleagues and patients, which ultimately fuelled her campaigning for tackling race equality issues.

Medium: Acrylic and wallpaper on canvas
Size: 51cm x 40cm x 2cm

21

Her Heart is Gold

Anglican prelate, Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, knew she wanted to be a priest from the age of…
21

A gently smiling Black woman with short hair wearing the white collar of a priest and a red cardigan with a green circular line around her head against a brown canvas background.

Her Heart is Gold

Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin CD MBE KHC

Anglican prelate, Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, knew she wanted to be a priest from the age of fourteen.  Her journey has lead to her becoming the first Black woman to be ordained as a Church of England bishop, the first Black woman to be Chaplain to the Monarch and the first female Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons.  Hudson-Wilkin has also received an MBE for her services to young people and the Church.

Medium: Acrylic, gold ink and foil leaf on linen

Size: 104.5cm x 74cm x 5cm

22

This Is My Story

Paulette Simpson is Deputy CEO of Corporate Affairs of Jamaica National Bank in the UK and Deputy Chair of the…
22

A smiling Black woman sat on a gold chair wearing a green suit and patterned top against a black background.

This Is My Story

Paulette Simpson CBE

Paulette Simpson is Deputy CEO of Corporate Affairs of Jamaica National Bank in the UK and Deputy Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee, which helped to erect the National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station.  Simpson is also Executive Director of The Voice and was awarded a CBE in 2020 for services to Caribbean community in the UK.

Medium: Acrylic, wallpaper and chrome ink on
wallpaper canvas

Size: 91cm x 66cm x 3.5cm

23

Mother of Mothers

1955 – 2020 Yoga teacher and dance practitioner, Rosina Osei Bonsu was a prolific influence to the yoga and dance…
23

A Black woman with long black hair in braids wearing yellow reaching both her hand out towards the silver silhouette of a hand, against a yellow geometric background.

Mother of Mothers

Rosina Osei Bonsu

1955 – 2020

Yoga teacher and dance practitioner, Rosina Osei Bonsu was a prolific influence to the yoga and dance scenes in Glasgow and beyond. With the belief of ‘whatever the problem it can be solved by moving’ Bonsu established Dance House Glasgow to connect and establish conversation with dancers to discover what their bodies could achieve. Alongside this Bonsu was also a lecturer at West College Scotland and taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Medium: Acrylic and chrome ink on wallpaper
canvas

Size: 100cm x 120cm x 4cm

24

Behind the Eyes

Campaigner and Labour Peer in the House of Lords, Doreen Lawrence began her campaigns after the murder of her son,…
24

A Black woman with short black hair with a serene expression wearing a blue floral patterned top against a floral background in different tones of brown.

Behind the Eyes

Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE

Campaigner and Labour Peer in the House of Lords, Doreen Lawrence began her campaigns after the murder of her son, Stephen Lawrence.  Following Stephen’s murder, she campaigned for reforms to the police and continues to campaign for better accountability in the service.  Lawrence is also the founder and President of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, has received an OBE for services to Community Relations, made a Life Peer in 2013, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride of Britain Awards and received honorary doctorates from the University of Cambridge, Open University and the University of West London.

Medium: Acrylic and wallpaper on canvas

Size: 90cm x 65.5cm x 2.1cm

25

There's a Lot of World Out There

Ruby Turner is a singer, songwriter and actress.  She is one of the only British artists to reach no. 1…
25

A seated Black woman with long black hair looking to the side with a calm expression wearing a brown floral patterned shirt and black dress against a background of
different shades of green and patterns.

There's a Lot of World Out There

Ruby Turner MBE

Ruby Turner is a singer, songwriter and actress.  She is one of the only British artists to reach no. 1 on the USA R&B chart with her 1990 song ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’.  As well as her wide music discography and MBE for services to music, Turner has also acted in film, television and productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, Carmen Jones, Fame, One Love and Simply Heavenly.

Medium: Acrylic and wallpaper on linen

Size: 146cm x 118cm x 3cm

26

Power to the People

Former Labour Councillor and Assistant City Mayor for Tackling Racism and Disadvantage, Sue Hunter was part of one of the…
26

A smiling Black woman with voluminous black curly hair in a relaxed pose, wearing black and a silver necklace with her right arm raised in a relaxed pose against a background of dark red.

Power to the People

Sue Hunter

Former Labour Councillor and Assistant City Mayor for Tackling Racism and Disadvantage, Sue Hunter was part of one of the only councils in England to appoint a person designated to handling racial equality and discrimination.

Medium: Acrylic, chrome ink and foil leaf on linen

Size: 138cm x 90cm x 4cm

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