The poison behind the pattern at Wheal Martyn near St Austell

Some of the most admired wallpaper ever printed had a secret in the pigment. The colours that made it beautiful came from arsenic, and somebody had to dig that poison out of the ground. A good deal of it came from Cornwall.

That uncomfortable trade is the subject of a new art exhibition opening today (Friday 16 October) at Wheal Martyn Clay Works near St Austell. Arsenic: What Price Beauty? looks at the hidden cost behind beauty and the things we desire.

📷Terrye adding the finishing touches

Two years of digging into forgotten stories

The exhibition is the result of two years of research and a major new body of work by Terrye Teverson, a contemporary Cornish fine artist, digital printmaker and sculptor.

“I find it stimulating researching and unearthing old stories that have long been forgotten or buried, with a focus on themes of misogyny, patriarchy and social injustice,” said Terrye.

“My recent investigation into the arsenic trade in Cornwall brought these pervasive forces into sharp relief, and these historical revelations have fuelled this body of work.”

📷Arsenic: What Price Beauty?

The human cost of a toxic trade

The work examines the production of this highly toxic element, what it was used for, and what it meant for the children who laboured in the trade, both historically in Cornwall and in its continued use around the world today.

Blending traditional and contemporary mediums, the pieces are designed as immersive experiences. They challenge visitors to confront their own desire for beautiful objects and to think about how those objects are made.

📷Arsenic: What Price Beauty?

William Morris and the arsenic in his wallpaper

One thread of the exhibition reveals William Morris’s involvement in the arsenic trade. It sets the beauty of his celebrated wallpaper designs alongside the disturbing history of the people who extracted the poisonous substance used in them.

On show are painted ceramics, digital prints, paintings and sculpture.

📷Arsenic: What Price Beauty?

From Cornish labyrinths to mines overseas

Sarah C Jane, Collections Manager at Wheal Martyn, said: “This truly is an exhibition for art lovers, historians and Kernowphiles alike.

“From the arsenic labyrinths of Cornwall to mining communities overseas today, Terrye’s work encourages us to look beyond appearances and consider the human stories, environmental damage and hidden costs that may lie beneath the surface.

“The exhibition asks us to question the true cost of the things we value and use, and to reflect on how our choices as consumers affect the lives of others.”

Visiting the exhibition

Arsenic: What Price Beauty? is in the Roger Preston Gallery at Wheal Martyn Clay Works from Friday 16 October until Tuesday 22 December 2026.

There is no extra charge to see it. Entry is included in the standard museum admission, and more details are on the Wheal Martyn website.

📷Artist Terrye Teverson