From the magnificent gardens created by Vita Sackville-West at Sissinghurst to a striking self-portrait by Angelica Kauffman; from elegant, mass-produced ceramics by Susie Cooper, to a model of a Palmyran temple by lady’s maid Betty Ratcliffe – this beautifully illustrated book takes a closer look at the women whose creativity has shaped the National Trust’s collections and, often, the experience of visitors to its places.

Spanning six centuries, the book explores the lives and work of women artists and designers across a range of disciplines, including garden and interior design, photography, illustration, industrial design, fine art, studio pottery and textiles. The selection features both talented amateur artists and professionals who have shaped the art-historical canon (such as Eileen Agar, Élisabeth Vigée le Brun, Rosalba Carriera and Barbara Hepworth), focussing on their unique contributions and achievements.