The Herring Girls FREE Collage Workshop
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Herring Girls
Women in Scotland and northeastern England played an important role in the fishing industry from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Known as “fishwives” and “herring girls,” they followed the herring fleet from port to port. These women worked quickly and skilfully, gutting and packing fish; many could clean up to 60 herring in a minute.
They also contributed to the business side of fishing. They sold fish at local markets and travelled inland to trade with rural communities. In fishing towns like Cullercoats and Fisher row, women-maintained fishing nets, baited long lines with thousands of hooks, and managed household finances while men were at sea. Their work made them essential to the economy and social life of these coastal communities.
About the artist
Angela Ortenzi-MacColl is a Mixed Media artist from Irvine, Ayrshire, and a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. Since 2019, she has focused on her artistic practice, influenced by her love for textiles and decorative arts. Her work features design papers informed by memories and emotions, often beginning with titles. Angela creates bold, narrative-driven pieces where design and painting complement each other, inviting viewers to appreciate flowing lines and intricate details.