The woman behind WHIPS

Anna Dowling-Clarke is an art historian, storyteller, and founder of WHIPS: Women Hidden in Plain Sight — a platform that brings visibility to the overlooked achievements of women through immersive self-guided audio tours, in-person walks, and public talks. Her work invites audiences to see familiar places through a radically different lens: one that honours the women whose lives, labour and legacies have been forgotten, ignored, or erased from the built environment and the historical record.

With a background in art history and a particular interest in female patrons of the arts, Anna’s research explores how women shaped cultural life, often behind the scenes or against the odds. She is drawn not only to what stories get told, but how they are told: what details are emphasised, which voices are omitted and who gets to author the narrative.

WHIPS is rooted in a deep belief in the power of place-based storytelling to challenge inherited histories. From royal palaces to overlooked alleyways, Anna uses the city as a stage to spotlight trailblazers, rule-breakers and everyday women whose impact has long been hidden in plain sight.

Why I created WHIPS

“This project started from a quiet frustration. While studying for my master’s degree in Art History, I spent a lot of time researching the work of Georgia O’Keeffe. I was drawn to her boldness, her perspective and the way she insisted on being seen. But as I dug deeper, I realised how little I actually knew about women artists more broadly, and how rarely they were mentioned throughout the rest of my education.

Thanks to the work of a range of scholars, including the brilliant, accessibility-focused art historian Katy Hessel, I began to uncover more of the women left out of art history. But my curiosity began to shift. I wasn’t only interested in the artists themselves, I became fascinated by the women who supported the arts. Who were the women behind the scenes—the patrons, the funders, the collectors—who had the means and the vision to make space for creativity?

That’s what led me to Florence, where I spent time at the Dutch Insitute for Art History researching the women who appear in the payment records of the painter Alessandro Allori. It was there that I met Martine Bontjes, founder of Women of Amsterdam, and someone who shared my growing passion for tracing the impact of women in cultural life. Our conversations have never really stopped.

These tours are part of that conversation. It’s a way of bringing those stories into the open air, into the streets of Edinburgh, where so many women lived, created, fought, healed and endured. I hope they make you feel curious, moved and even a little changed because once you start to notice the women in the margins, you can’t unsee them, and the city begins to look very different.”

Anna Dowling-Clarke

  • What a delight it was to explore Edinburgh’s women’s history with Anna! She is incredibly knowledgeable and charismatic, and generously open to thoughtful tangents that enriched the experience. Every stop on her tour was engaging and informative, and she offered insightful, critical perspectives beyond the standard narrative. It felt less like a tour and more like a stimulating conversation. She is the kind of guide you wish you could keep walking with for hours, and I’m already looking forward to visiting Edinburgh again so I can join another of her tours!

    —Shelly Levy

  • My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed Anna's 90 minutes tour 'In Their Footsteps' visiting 5 local Old Town sites associated with women previously unacknowledged for their contribution to Edinburgh's planning and design. Anna spoke clearly and was highly knowledgeable but delivered the material in a relaxed style which added to our overall enjoyment. The route was well thought out and the walking pace was relaxed allowing time to take on board the sights as well as ask questions. The highlight for me was seeing Trinity Apse which was unknown to me despite living in Edinburgh for over 35 years. Thanks Anna

    —Liz Fraser

  • A fascinating tour of old Edinburgh with Annawho told us the stories of so many women "hidden in plain sight." An unexpected highlight was the visit to the Magdalen chapel in the Cowgate with its pre Reformation stained glass roundels.

    —Carol Leeuwenberg

  • "I did the WHIP tour with Anna just before Christmas and it was an excellent tour. Anna was a great guide and very knowledgeable, very happy to answer questions. The tour was a relatively easy walk and was very enjoyable. Highly recommend doing this tour."

    —Sandra McCreanor

  • Anna's tour 'In Their Footsteps' was insightful and an important topic that should be widely heard. She provided great storytelling, visual guides and real passion for her subject. Would recommend.

    Kat Milne

  • "Really excellent tour and topic, highly recommend"

    —Francesca Kellett

  • "Don’t think twice about downloading this tour - it’s just amazing! It’s such a unique, interesting and informative way to learn about the history of Edinburgh through the eyes of the women who made the city what it is today. Anna takes you through their stories and keeps you on your toes. And it was so easy to follow the directions! Would 100% recommend this to anyone wanting to learn about old Edinburghs history."

    —Boroka Godley

  • "I thought I knew Edinburgh quite well but a few surprises and information I didn't know which was great. Very clear voice and instructions. It was interesting and enjoyable and I would certainly recommend it to others interested in Edinburgh's history and the place of women in that."

    —Anonymous Explorer

  • "I can't recommend this tour enough! The guide was incredibly knowledgeable, offering fascinating insights into both the city's history and its hidden gems. As a local, I learned so much about the city I thought I knew well, and I can imagine tourists would find it equally engaging and informative. Whether you're a native or visiting for the first time, this tour is a must-do. It's an experience I’d wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking to get a deeper understanding of Edinburgh!"

    —Anonymous Explorer

  • "I really enjoyed this tour! It is a unique way of looking at Edinburgh, as it dives into the often overlooked contributions of women in shaping the city. The guide’s narration is very engaging and relaxing which made the tour even better! My favourite stop was the Magdalen Chapel, which I would not have noticed or known about were it not for the guide. It is very original and the route was very enjoyable, I loved ending up at the Scottish Parliament to hear about more modern stories of women hidden in plain sight. Brilliant overall! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟"

    —Olivia

  • Anna provided a fascinating and insightful guided tour on this important subject. I really enjoyed the combination of historical facts as well as her informed viewpoints on how / why these women are 'hidden in plain sight'. The practicalities of the tour were very well thought-out too. Plus the very helpful follow-up information. I would highly recommend 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

    —Nicky Bird

  • ‘In their Footsteps’ tour. Anna was very informative, interesting and captivated her audience. Great tour guide and speaker and can heartily recommend her tours.

    —Janet Huggan

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