'THE Story of a Fairy Family' is the intriguing title of an exhibition now on at Kirkcudbright Galleries.
It casts fresh light on the lives of four boundary-breaking women artists who lived, loved, and created together in the town.
Visitors get to explore the lesser-known histories of Kirkcudbright as a radical bohemian artists' town through the intertwining lives of Dorothy Johnstone, Vera 'Jack' Holme, Anne Finlay, and Cecile Walton, in their own words and imagery.
By bringing their artworks together with artefacts including diaries, letters, photographs and a hand-illustrated fairy-tale book they created together in 1918, the show offers a vivid insight into the bohemian lives of the women artists who spent their summers locally in the early 20th-century.
At the heart of the exhibition is The Story of a Fairy Family, a hand-illustrated book created collaboratively by the quartet in 1918.
This playful and poignant fairytale - in which the artists portray themselves and their chosen family - offers insight into the emotional depth of their relationships.
The exhibition curator say it provides "a rare early 20th-century example of chosen family, gender non-conforming expression, liberation and romantic freedom", reflecting the real-life domestic and creative lives they were living as part of Jessie M. King's Greengate Close Coterie.
There are additional contributions from the families of Dorothy Johnstone and Vera Holme, author Wendy Moore, pupils of Kirkcudbright Academy, and local community members.
The Story of a Fairy Family has been developed in collaboration with Kirkcudbright Galleries and DJ McDowall of The Imaginarium, as part of their Pride of Place project.
Commenting, co-curator DJ McDowall said: "This exhibition is a vital, and timely celebration of a group of women who lived authentically, joyfully and creatively, on their own terms, in defiance of the societal norms of their time.
"We are very proud to be able to situate their stories where they belong, taking their rightful place, Pride of Place, at the heart of the artists' town."
Councillor Tracey Little has been to see it and added: "This is a very welcome exhibition and a must see for all of our region's young people.
"Inclusion, diversity, and LGBTQ+ stories are not just important - they are essential to a truly enriching education. Celebrating diverse identities helps create safer, more respectful school environments where every student can thrive academically and emotionally."