Yvadney Davis is a South London artist who explores her Caribbean British heritage through nostalgia, lineage and belonging. Her mixed-media works honour Windrush-era interiors, bridging ancestral and present.
Yvadney’s series Gather Round the Story Tree is a series of three paintings that bring traditional Caribbean folk stories to life. The title reflects the storytelling tradition within the African diaspora, where tales of wisdom, humour and caution are passed down orally by a respected storyteller.
Each piece explores a different aspect of Caribbean folklore, combining diverse materials including linen canvas, vintage wallpaper and chrome ink to evoke its cultural, spiritual and historical richness. The linen, reminiscent of the burlap sacks used in the Islands, and mid-century wallpaper, nodding to the Windrush Generation, create a layered narrative adding to the textured surfaces Yvadney is known for.
The piece, Jack Mandora Mi No Choose None, references a Jamaican phrase used to conclude all folk tales, where the storyteller denies all responsibility for the characters’ actions.
Anansi and the Magic Dutch Pot recounts one of the hundreds of mischievous and greedy spider-human’ tales, while When Tiger Nyam Leah delves into a darker Jamaican fable exploring pride and survival.
