Kidney stones in a female patient with renal colic: left kidney, lower lobe section showing (a) independent blood supply via renal artery and (b) opened calices to show site of renal calculi, in relation to their position as seen in radiographs. Watercolour by Barbara E. Nicholson, 1958.

Ashford, Middlesex, 1958.

1 painting : watercolour, with gouache ; sheet 24.3 x 15.2 cm

Barbara Evelyn Nicholson (1906 – 1978) trained at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1923. She began her artistic career as a medical illustrator and was a founder member of the Medical Artists Association, where she is recorded as serving on an exhibition committee in October 1949. By 1951, she had illustrated G.F. Gibberd, A short textbook of midwifery (2nd ed., London: J. & A. Churchill, 1941) and Philip Wiles, Essentials of orthopaedics (London: J. & A. Churchill, 1949). The Medical Artists Association records last list her, in 1951. In the 1950s her focus moved to botanical subjects and from the late 1950s – 1970s she was a prolific botanical illustrator.

L<eft> kidney, aberrant renal artery, position of stones Lettering inscribed in pencil as key, typed accompanying note gives patient history and states that right kidney was normal Hand written note underneath image reads, "please let me know if I have not got this right- shall be calling in as soon as I can in Jan[uary], B. E. N." from Barbara Nicholson Bears number: 535/1958

closed until 01/01/2043

Wellcome Collection 36129i

The watercolours and pen and ink drawings held by Wellcome Collection were painted by Barbara Nicholson at Ashford Hospital, Ashford, Middlesex, between 1946 and 1951, at the request of the surgeon Norman Matheson.

Presented to the Wellcome Institute Library in 1987 by Ashford Postgraduate Medical Centre, as part of a collection of medical illustrations by Barbara E. Nicholson.