This convening at Dimbola, Cameron's former home on the Isle of Wight, offers visits and talks reflecting on the poetry, theatricals, bohemian lifestyle, Christianity and myriad connections through Anglo-Indian society that inspired her photographs. Images have been selected from the several collections of Cameron’s work and in particular from the extensive RPS Collection at the V&A, together with others given to the V&A by Cameron herself or purchased from her.
Two recent developments have influenced the content of this event, Women of Influence: The Pattle Sisters currently showing at Watts Galley (closing 4 May 2026) with an accompanying publication and also new research by Aneela de Soysa into Julia Margaret Cameron’s final years of photography in Sri Lanka.
The programme includes a series of themed talks over two days - 5 and 6 June, plus optional visits and workshops.
Friday, 5th June – This day focuses on CAMERON + FRESHWATER, with a guided tour by Chairman Brian Hinton, a walk on Tennyson’s Trail, and talks on her life before she began her career in photography.
Saturday, 6th June – The morning focuses on CAMERON + THEATRICS, with talks on G.F. Watts, the Pattle Sisters, and Cameron’s second studio and theatre. In the afternoon, we turn to another significant chapter of her life—CAMERON + CEYLON (current day Sri Lanka) —through a series of talks and a panel discussion.
Sunday, 7th June – The convening concludes with a hands-on cyanotype workshop and a final curated walk through Freshwater.
Pre-Convening Day – Thursday, 4th June - A guided tour of Farringford, home of the Tennysons from 1853 to 1892; Queen Victoria’s Osborne House; and All Saints Church in Freshwater, the final resting place of several members of Cameron’s Freshwater circle. Contact the co-organiser directly to take part.
See the full programme and book here.
Image (detail): Julia Margaret Cameron, 'A Group of Kalutara Peasants', albumen print, 1878. RPS Collection at the V&A Museum, London.
