Robert Burns' famous narrative poem ‘Tam O’ Shanter’ (1791) was inspired by some of the many witch stories associated in his home of Ayrshire. Tam, a farmer, lingers too long at the inn on market-day and has to ride home by night with dire consequences. In the churchyard he comes upon a coven of warlocks and witches dancing wildly to the bagpipes of Auld Nick. His drunken comments on an attractive young witch, Nannie, who has stripped down to her ‘cutty sark’ (short shift) lead instantly to angry scenes. His only means of eluding his evil pursuers is to cross water and as he reaches the centre of Doon Brig Nannie lunges, the mare springs to safety, and the witch is left clutching just a tail. June Crisfield Chapman has written: ‘The central action of this edifying moralistic tale I have engraved fairly obviously, but in the right lower corner is Tam’s wife ‘nursing her wrath to keep it warm’ and in the top left is Tam carousing back in Ayr at his favourite hostelry. Tam himself is on horseback galloping for dear life but all that can be seen of poor Meg is her sweeping tail which so soon will disappear for ever!’

June Crisfield-Chapman, 1934-2017

June Crisfield-Chapman was born in Kent but later educated in Scotland. She graduated at the Glasgow School of Art, specialising in wood engraving, having discovered an interest in theater. Her portrait paintings and plant-based wood engravings are her most well-known works, reflecting her dual interests. The engravings cover different subject categories: botanical and natural history subjects, folklore and myth, and theatrical scenes and characters. These factors influenced her awareness of the dramatic possibilities of black and white, as well as the form that can be achieved by clear, clean lines, which is the essential nature of engraving.