Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature | V&A, London

Lighting Design for a Captivating Visitor Experience at the Beatrix Potter Exhibition

The lighting design at the Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature exhibition played a crucial role in creating an immersive experience, enhancing the storytelling of Beatrix Potter’s life and work. The exhibition, held at the V&A South Kensington, ran from 12 February 2022 to 8 January 2023, offering an insightful journey through the beloved author’s world.

Michael Grubb Studio worked closely with the V&A’s internal 3D design team to create a lighting scheme that both protected sensitive exhibits and brought a sense of theatre to the exhibition spaces. The challenge was to balance the need for safe lighting of delicate items while introducing a touch of drama without overshadowing the displays.

Celebrating Beatrix Potter’s Life and Legacy

Helen Beatrix Potter, an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist, is best known for her beloved children’s books featuring animals like The Tale of Peter Rabbit. This exhibition featured over 200 personal items, including original illustrations, personal diaries, letters, and photographs. Visitors were taken on a visual journey through her development as a storyteller and businesswoman.

Lighting the Journey Through Potter’s Life Stages

The exhibition was divided into four sections, each highlighting a different phase of Potter’s life:

• Town and Country – Illustrating her childhood in South Kensington, London.
• Under the Microscope – Focusing on Potter’s deep interest in natural science.
• A Natural Storyteller – Revealing her accidental rise to fame as a best-selling author.
• Living Nature – Celebrating her influence on the natural landscape in the Lake District.

Each stage was supported by lighting that transitioned from warm and traditional to surreal and dynamic, guiding visitors through Potter’s life story. The lighting narrative captured the essence of each life phase, from her early years to her profound connection with nature.

Blending Conventional and Theatrical Lighting Techniques

Michael Grubb Studio combined traditional and theatrical lighting techniques to create the final vision for the exhibition. The result was an engaging, visually stunning experience that transported visitors into Beatrix Potter’s world.

The Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature exhibition was a temporary display that ran from 12 February 2022 to 8 January 2023 at V&A South Kensington.

“Designing Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature at the V&A was a highly collaborative process. Michael Grubb Studio played an integral part throughout all stages. They carefully and creatively balanced the safe lighting of sensitive objects against an immersive and magical atmosphere.” 

Sam Brown, Lead Designer 3D at the V&A South Kensington