Paxton House: Palimpsest

This powerful exhibition explores the deep, complex ties between Grenada, Scotland, and England, and the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade. Drawing on Frank’s acclaimed Venice Biennale project (Palimpsest: Tales Spun From Sea And Memories) and new works developed in collaboration with Glasgow Print Studio, the exhibition reimagines hidden narratives, amplifying voices long overlooked.

“It is truly an honor to have my work exhibited at Paxton House, a site deeply intertwined with the histories of Grenada, Ottobah Cugoano, and my own ancestral ties to Scotland,” says Billy Gérard Frank. “At the heart of this exhibition is education—an opportunity to engage communities, particularly young people, in critically examining these entangled histories. Through this exhibition, I hope to foster reflection, dialogue, and the empowerment of new generations to reclaim and reimagine their histories.”

Paxton House’s exhibition is part of a wider programme featuring panels, talks, and a cross-cultural educational initiative Bridging Borders, uniting young people from Grenada, Scotland, and England. The programme is delivered in partnership with Descendants Children’s Charity, Grenadian Partners and the Edinburgh Caribbean Association, and will culminate in film screenings and community-led creative works exploring the themes of the exhibition, developed by each group in the run up to the launch.

This exhibition builds on the work of Paxton House’s 2022 project Parallel Lives, Worlds Apart, continuing the Trust’s commitment to uncovering and addressing the house’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade.

Curator Dr Fiona Salvesen Murrell said:
“Through ongoing collaborations with artists, scholars, and community groups, The Paxton Trust seeks to deepen public understanding of how these histories shaped the house, the collections, the region, and wider society—acknowledging the lasting impact of these legacies today.”

Lisa Williams, founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association, comments:
‘This project means a great deal to the families in our group; it is a rare opportunity to contribute to the public understanding of Scotland’s colonial heritage through Caribbean perspectives. It serves as a catalyst for important conversations within and outwith our families, helping us connect more deeply with both Scottish and Caribbean heritage.’

Members of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association, commented:
‘As someone of Grenadian heritage, this means so much to me. I can’t wait to get involved.’
‘It’s a fascinating project, and so happy to be invited to be part of it.’

Margaret Noel of the Descendants Children’s Charity echoes the project’s significance:

‘Many of our children and their families are of Grenadian descent and this project has enabled us to jointly explore the historical connections between Paxton House and its collections, people born along the banks of the Tweed and beyond in Scotland, slavery, and the legacy it has left. Being able to work alongside Paxton and for our children to have an engagement programme which leads to contributing creative work into the internationally renowned Billy Gérard Frank’s exhibition will be a great step in healing the past as a fuller history and new stories will be being told.’

This exhibition and engagement activity has been funded by Destination Tweed, Henfrey Charitable Trust, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Museums Galleries Scotland, Simpson’s Malt and private donors and charitable trusts.

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