A Witches Storm

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This is a non-fiction retelling of the North Berwick witch trials.

Wise woman Agnes Sampson was accused and executed of witchcraft in the late 16th Century. This is a visual narrative of her life and death capturing the fantastical beliefs surrounding witches, in contrast to the brutal lived experiences of those accused of Witchcraft.

  • During the late 16th Century King James I was caught in a storm while sailing back to England, and during a time of poor weather, religious fervour and fear this was decreed an attempt on the king’s life by witches.

    The North Berwick witch trials involved over 70 people, resulting in the execution of accused witches.

    Agnes Sampson was a wise woman. A well regarded figure within her community who used her knowledge of medicine to help women during labour.

    Little is known about her life. From studying historical texts around her trial it is known she had a daughter. We can also speculate that she had other children and that she was a widow, but a lot is uncertain.

    But we know of her death, she was tried and executed as a witch for treason.

    This is a visual retelling of her story capturing the fantastical nature of the time periods’ beliefs. While also paying tribute to the brutal lived reality of the women who fell victim to those beliefs.