Work In Progress - Hilary Barry

I’ve recently started a new project, focusing on the Pit Girls and women – also known as Patch Girls – who used to labour in the Tredegar iron and coal works.

Photograph of British artist Hilary Barry’s preliminary work in oil on canvas: “Tredegar Tip Girls project #1” — Preliminary work: Tredegar Pit Girls project

Photograph of British artist Hilary Barry’s preliminary work in oil on canvas: “Tredegar Tip Girls project #2” — Preliminary work: Tredegar Pit Girls project #2

Photograph of British artist Hilary Barry’s preliminary work in oil on canvas: “Tredegar Tip Girls project #3” — Preliminary work: Tredegar Pit Girls project #3

Photograph of British artist Hilary Barry’s preliminary work in pencil on paper: “Tredegar Tip Girls project #4”. — Preliminary work: Tredegar Pit Girls project #4

One of the most striking features in the few photos that exist of them, taken by William Clayton in 1865, was the extraordinary hats they wore with their daily work clothes. I’ve attempted to recreate a few examples here.