Pamela Colman Smith Exhibition
Teyr Fine Art, Bude | 5 February to 5 March 2026
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
We are delighted to invite artists to take part in a special exhibition honouring the visionary artistry of Pamela Colman Smith and her enduring contribution to the Rider Waite Smith Tarot.
This group exhibition, hosted at Teyr Fine Art in Bude, will showcase original interpretations of the Major Arcana - the 22 archetypal cards that sit at the heart of the tarot tradition. We are calling for artists to submit two works that represent your personal vision of the Major Arcana. Whether you choose to focus on a single card or interpret a pair in dialogue, we welcome your voice and perspective.
Pamela Colman Smith "Pixie"
Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951), affectionately known as “Pixie,” was a British artist, illustrator, writer, publisher, and occultist. She gained international acclaim for illustrating the Rider Waite Tarot deck in 1909, a collaboration with mystic Arthur Edward Waite, which has since become the most widely recognised and used tarot deck in the world. Her distinctive imagery, especially the richly illustrated Minor Arcana, revolutionised tarot design, rendering abstract symbols into vivid, narrative scenes.
Raised between London, New York and Kingston, Jamaica, Pamela’s eclectic upbringing and her studies at the avant garde Pratt Institute shaped her synesthetic and symbolist visual style. She moved through influential artistic and occult circles, joining the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1901, and counted among her friends literary and theatrical figures like W B Yeats, Bram Stoker and Ellen Terry. Despite her wide artistic accomplishments, including writing folkloric collections and editing a literary magazine, she spent her final years in Cornwall. In the 1940s, she settled in the seaside town of Bude, where she lived quietly and passed away in relative obscurity in 1951.
In recent decades, there has been a rediscovery of Smith’s contributions to both art and occult history. Exhibitions, biographies and scholarly work have begun to acknowledge her central role in the creation of the Rider Waite Smith tarot and her broader creative legacy. Her synesthetic artwork, pioneering inclusion of detailed scenes in all tarot cards, and literary collaborations render her an enduring figure for artists, occultists and historians alike.
Portrait of PCS by Hannah Wheeler
Recommended Reading for further research
Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story – A richly illustrated biography offering deep insight into Smith’s life, artistic development and the cultural influences that shaped her work. It combines narrative essays with archival art to present a compelling portrait of the artist. You might be able to find a copy here.
Pamela Colman Smith, Tarot Artist: The Pious Pixie – This detailed exploration delves into Smith’s creative output, her role in tarot iconography and her broader contributions to the visual and esoteric arts. A thoughtful and beautifully produced volume, it brings Pixie’s legacy into focus for modern readers and tarot enthusiasts.
You might be able to find a copy here.
An Ragdres (the project)
Submission guidelines
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Theme: Your interpretation of the Major Arcana in the Rider Waite Smith Tarot deck - please see reference images below
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Number of works: Up to two pieces per artist
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Format: Your work must fit within an A3 size frame (29.7cm x 42cm) with a minimum 35mm mount
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Medium: Traditional, non-digital materials only — including, but not limited to:
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Paint, pencil, ink
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Printmaking
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Needlework, embroidery
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Clay tiles or other materials that can sit within a frame
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Collage or mixed media (excluding AI-generated or digital elements)
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Framing: Please do not frame your work. All selected submissions will be framed locally in Bude to ensure consistency throughout the exhibition.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept any digital works or printed reproductions. All pieces must be original, handmade works. We also do not permit the use of artificial intelligence at any stage of the creation process, including ideation.
Artist Statement
Each submission must include a short artist statement covering:
- Your artistic background
- Your interpretation and vision for the card or cards
- A brief explanation of your creative process and chosen medium
Pricing & sales
All exhibited works will be available for purchase at a universal list price of £250.00. Teyr Fine Art has generously offered a reduced commission for members of the Dark Cornwall community.
Please note: The cost of framing is payable by the artist upon selection. If your piece is selected but not sold, it will be returned to you framed.
Any unsold works can be returned to the artist after the exhibition closes - see terms below.
If you are an international artist, you must ensure that all duties and taxes are prepaid. We regret that we cannot accept deliveries that require additional customs payments — these will be refused and returned to the sender.
Delivery
All initial submissions must be sent digitally (high quality photos or scans) to commissions@darkcornwall.com for consideration.
If selected, you may either deliver your piece in person or via post. If posting your work:
• Use sustainable packaging where possible
• Ensure your piece is well protected and clearly labelled
• Any unsold works can be returned ot the artist after the exhibition closes. The cost will be confirmed in due course. Alternatively, work can be collected from the gallery.
• For international artists, please make sure all import duties are prepaid. Any parcels that incur unpaid duties will not be accepted
• We cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged parcels - any artwork damaged in transit will not be exhibited
If delivering in person, please liaise with the gallery directly to arrange a time.
Any uncollected works that arrive without a return label will be available for in-person collection on selected dates. If still unclaimed, they will be donated to a local charity.
Content note
We will not accept any submissions that feature hate speech, racism, or discriminatory content in any form.
IMPORTANT DATES & DETAILS
• All digital submissions must be sent via the form below by the 5th December 2025
• Selections made by the Curation Committee on the 15th December and all submitting artists updated.
• Selected artwork submission deadline: All pieces must be received by 5 January 2026
• Exhibition dates: 5 February to 5 March 2026
• Location: Teyr Fine Art, Bude
• Total spaces: A maximum of 45 artists will be selected for exhibition
• Selection: Final works will be chosen by a small curatorial panel. All applicants will be notified once selections are made.
Contact
For any questions about submissions, pricing, framing, or gallery arrangements, please get in touch: commissions@darkfolklore.com. We may not be able to respond to all questions individually, but we will be adding an FAQ website where we share the questions and responses for all to review.
We’re so looking forward to seeing the worlds you build from Pamela’s foundations, and to honouring the magical, mysterious, and often overlooked artist who opened the visual path for generations of tarot readers, artists, philosophers and seekers.
Kampollansow (Reference points)
