Week Two - #1

Brief Overview of Fairy Queen Research

Resolved that I would like to make a piece of fine art for my final outcome I set out to look for a subject in Scottish fairy mythology. I started by looking into Nicnevin, Queen of the Fairies, Queen of the Witches. She appears in folklore from the 1500s onwards and the truth of her nature is shrouded in mystery now and comes to us only in hints and obscure references. I felt that this would be a good idea to visualize because it would make a solid piece of work to add to the character’s obscure image. The meaning of Nicnevin’s name is unknown although it might have been derived from a Gaelic name meaning “daughter of the little saint”, “daughter of the little bones” or the Irish war goddess Nemhain.

"Then a ready company came, soon after close,
Nicnevin with her nymphs, in number enough
With charms from Caithness and the Canonry of Ross
Whose knowledge consists in casting a ball of yarn...
The King of Fairy, and his Court, with the Elf Queen,
with many elvish Incubi was riding that night."

-Alexander Montgomerie, 16th century poem

Nicnevin is described as being a giant and a grandmother witch/fairy. She is connected with storms and compared to the Goddess Hecate. She is visualized as riding at the head of witches, fairies, sorceresses and elves.