janet axten
Arts, Design, History, Education and Learning
Suggested by Vicki Aimers
Vicki writes,
“Janet is a champion of female histories, uncovering narratives that would otherwise be lost. She is devoted to finding out more about the women in the county and the stories they have concerning textiles, design, business and heritage and passionate about preserving these female narratives for future generations. She is an inspiration in so many ways. The time she devotes to research and sharing her findings with others, her tenacity and capacity for her research are all admirable.”
Janet was The Hypatia Trust’s Woman of the Month in July 2024:
Born in London, Janet moved to St Ives in 1985. In 1993 she graduated with a First Class in History from the Open University and in 2004 an MA in Cornish Studies with the University of Exeter. She was personal assistant to Patrick Heron, 1988 til 1999, then to the artist Bryan Pearce til 2007.
Janet wrote two books about Bryan as well as Gasworks to Gallery: The Story of Tate St Ives, in 1995. In 1996 she co-founded the St Ives Archive, a charitable organisation, that collects and stores information about all aspects of St Ives and its history. In 2008 Janet was made a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh with the bardic name of Porthia y’m Kolonn-vy (St Ives in my Heart).
As well as currently researching women in the textile industry, a subject that has so far never been explored, Janet is an inaugural member of the recently created ‘Crysede Collective’. The Collective brings together curators, specialists, students, and makers from across Cornwall to celebrate the working processes of the Crysede Silk Company (1918-1953) based in St Ives between 1926 and 1939. Her particular interest is the detailed history of the company itself and the women who worked there.