The Agnes Owens Archive
@aowensarchive.bsky.social
Opening 16.01.26, a new public resource dedicated to the Scottish writer Agnes Owens. This archive is housed within agrayarchive.bsky.social
Did you know The Alasdair Gray Archive cares for 8,500+ items across two unique collections- the Alasdair Gray Estate Collection & our AGA Collection, we'll be sharing highlights that continue to inspire our innovative model for research, commissioning and learning.
Thanks to @creativescots.bsky.social Open Fund for Organisations, @heatherparry.bsky.social & Kirstin Innes ave been exploring AGA & @aowensarchive.bsky.social through writing, workshops and new creative work. Here Heather shares the impact this residency has had on her practice.
Thanks to @creativescots.bsky.social Open Fund for Organisations, Heather Parry & @kirstininnes.bsky.social have been exploring AGA & @aowensarchive.bsky.social through writing, workshops and new creative work. Here Kirstin shares the impact on her practice. Photo: Alan Dimmick.
Week 6 of our Writing in the Margins group explored plot and structure, discussing Gray's The Star and @aowensarchive.bsky.social’s McIntyre (Lean Tales). Great discussion throughout—we're looking forward to next week! 🙏 to Saskia McCracken for facilitating!
We were delighted to welcome Margaret Higgins for an oral history interview with our SGSAH-funded CDA student, @laurzzs.bsky.social yesterday. Margaret shared memories of Agnes Owens, the Pen & Ink group, Jen’s Party, and Agnes’ lasting legacy. Thank you, Margaret!
📢 New on the blog! PhD researcher @laurzzs.bsky.social celebrates the centenary of the birth of Scottish author, Agnes Owens. Find out more about Agnes, her writing and how @aowensarchive.bsky.social is bringing her writing to wider audiences 📚 womenshistoryscotland.org/2026/07/04/c...
Welcome to Day 1 of our AGA x DJCAD Online Exhibition! 🎉 Celebrating the talented 4th Year BDes (Hons) Illustration students, whose inspiring archive-based work explores the creative legacies of Alasdair Gray & Agnes Owens thealasdairgrayarchive.org/news/aga-x-d...
AGA X DJCAD Online Exhibition - The Alasdair Gray Archive
AGA X Fourth Year BDes (Hons) Illustration students at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
thealasdairgrayarchive.org
Week 5 of Writing in the Margins explored how kitchens, workplaces and family life reveal the wider world. Huge thanks to guest writer @kirstininnes.bsky.social and everyone who shared thoughtful work proving big stories often begin at the kitchen table @aowensarchive.bsky.social
Over the past two months, we've loved welcoming Eva Casey as our Graphic Design & Content Creation Intern through @glasgow.ac.uk Creative Connections. Thanks for your creativity, hard work and enthusiasm, Eva—we wish you every success!
✨ Delighted to welcome members of the Scottish Records Association today! We shared highlights from The Alasdair Gray Archive and @aowensarchive.bsky.social, explored our collections, and celebrated the importance of preserving Scotland’s stories. 📚
✨ #VolunteerWeek shoutout to Nicolle, Shona & Evie! Their expertise and dedication to cataloguing, digitisation, research and writing help make the AGA & @aowensarchive.bsky.social collections more accessible. Thank you!
A lovely visit yesterday from the team at @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social Trust, who toured both AGA & @aowensarchive.bsky.social and heard from @kirstininnes.bsky.social about her developing work as part of our Creative Scotland–funded Writers Residency. Thanks to all for visiting!
This week we celebrate the creative friendship of Agnes Owens and Alasdair Gray. People Like That (1996) pairs Owens’ sharp, unsentimental stories with Gray’s cover art, inspired by commuters at Glasgow Central Station @aowensarchive.bsky.social
This week we celebrate the creative friendship of Agnes Owens and Alasdair Gray. Lean Tales (1985), with James Kelman, remains a powerful portrait of Scottish life and literary collaboration. @aowensarchive.bsky.social
This week we celebrate the creative friendship of Agnes Owens and Alasdair Gray. From annotated drafts to Gentlemen of the West, their collaboration and mutual support left a lasting mark on Scottish literature @aowensarchive.bsky.social
Lovely feedback from today’s tour group exploring the AGA & @aowensarchive.bsky.social collections with custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social: “A national treasure”, “Beautiful”, “Wonderful” & “terrific commentary”. Thanks for celebrating Agnes & Alasdair’s legacy.
PLEASE SHARE 🙏 Visit us & @aowensarchive.bsky.social this June 2026! Tours by Custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social: 5, 13, 19 & 26 June, 11am. Book via link in bio/Eventbrite.
PLEASE SHARE: Free 8-week writers group at AGA/ @aowensarchive.bsky.social Glasgow. Starts 28 May, Thursdays 1–3pm at The Whisky Bond. For local people new to writing. Guest sessions with @heatherparry.bsky.social & @kirstininnes.bsky.social, facilitated by Saskia McCracken. 10 free spaces.
"In A Working Mother, Owens transforms difficulties from her own life into a glorious work of art in which nothing is quite what it seems." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social review of all the Agnes Owens' books reissued by Polygon so far to mark her centenary. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...
This brilliant Scottish author has been forgotten for far too long - that changes now
AGNES Owens famously rejected the notion of herself as a feminist author. What she meant by that, I think, is that - while her depiction of poverty…
heraldscotland.com
Tickets still available for Polygon book launch for Agnes Owens new title release, stellar line up! @aowensarchive.bsky.social
Images by @alasdairwatson.bsky.social from Out of the Margins, curated by @sorchadallas.bsky.social at Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie. Featuring rare archival works, alongside Eardley & Gray, plus new ceramics by Hayley Jane Dawson. Come visit!
Our new tote bag is looking awesome on visitors Amy and Michael who stopped by today for our FREE TOUR, head to @agrayarchive.bsky.social online shop to get yours!
Got a chance to see the excellent satellite exhibition by @agrayarchive.bsky.social and @aowensarchive.bsky.social The Joan Eardley pictures & this photo were the highlights for me - imagine being part of that discussion or even just being privileged to eavesdrop on those amazing writers chatting!
On Saturday we opened Agnes Owens: Out of The Margins at Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie—the first of several centenary events. The exhibition runs 18 April–18 June 2026. Wonderful to see so many visitors attend.
✨ Out of the Margins: Centenary Programme – Alexandria ✨ Join @kirstininnes.bsky.social this May at Alexandria Library for free creative writing workshops. Explore setting, character & style across 3 sessions. Limited spaces—book now! 📖✍️
Writing Short Stories like Agnes Owens with Kirstin Innes
Have you always felt that you had a story within you that you would love to write?
eventbrite.co.uk
As part of Out of the Margins, we’re hosting events at Alexandria Library celebrating Owens’ life and legacy. Workshops (7,14,21 May), 100th birthday (23 May) & exhibition (23 May–30 Sept). Join us! #agnesowens
Delighted to share our new short film on Agnes Owens, marking her 2026 centenary, now live on AGA’s YouTube. Discover her life, work, and legacy—or watch it on a retro TV at the Lillie Art Gallery exhibition from today!
Agnes Owens: Out of the Margins
YouTube video by Alasdair Gray Archive
youtube.com
So exciting to see these - aren't they beautiful?
The Agnes Owens Archive@aowensarchive.bsky.social · 4mo ago📚 Pre-orders now open! 📚 Polygon’s @birlinn.bsky.social reissued Agnes Owens titles—with new introductions by @danigaravelli.bsky.social Kirsty Logan @kirstininnes.bsky.social and @heatherparry.bsky.social are in our shop. New covers by Joan Eardley. Order via link in bio!
📚 Pre-orders now open! 📚 Polygon’s @birlinn.bsky.social reissued Agnes Owens titles—with new introductions by @danigaravelli.bsky.social Kirsty Logan @kirstininnes.bsky.social and @heatherparry.bsky.social are in our shop. New covers by Joan Eardley. Order via link in bio!