An exhibition exploring the writings and legacy of a Croydon suffragette has welcomed its first guests to the town’s museum this week.

Katie Edith Gliddon was sentenced to hard labour in 1912 for smashing a Post Office window.

While she was jailed in Holloway Prison the suffragette kept a diary which has formed the basis of Mireille Fauchon’s doctoral research exploring the description of social history through visual storytelling.

Mireille, a PhD research student at Kingston School of Art, said: “The opportunity to collaborate with the Museum of Croydon and share Katie’s extraordinary narrative has been invaluable to the research process.

“Her story which is humble yet courageous belongs amongst the people of Croydon and I am thrilled to be able to share my understanding of her experiences.”

The illustrator, educator and practice-based PhD candidate, has become Croydon Museum’s second artist in residence.

The exhibition showcases a range of prints, drawings and collages and will be open to the public until Thursday 31 January.

Throughout the month Mireille will lead a series of free workshops beginning with a talk on January 12 discussing her creative process working in response to Katie Gliddon’s writings.

Councillor Oliver Lewis, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “I am delighted to welcome Mireille as Croydon Museum’s second ever artist in residence and look forward to exploring the exhibit.

“Last year marked 100 years since women won the right to vote through the hard work and sacrifice of women like Katie Gliddon.”

Katie was born in 1883 in Twickenham and became a member of the Women's Social and Political Union in Croydon around 1910.

By 1911 she had already written several articles on women's suffrage for various newspapers. In 1912 Gliddon was arrested for breaking the window of a Post Office in Wimpole Street for which sentenced to two months hard labour in Holloway prison.

Gliddon was an art teacher and painter before retiring to Worthing. Her papers are held by The Women’s Library, L.S.E.

You can sign up to attend the first talk on Eventbrite or email the museum or follow @MuseumOfCroydon on Twitter for more information on upcoming events.