iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Eleanor of Aquitaine. Expanding my medieval inspired art from nails to pottery painting... Inspiration taken from a portrait painting from the Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine, circa 1185

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, nail art edition.

A photo of a hand with nails painted in the style of The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. The painting starts on the thumbnail with the tree and ends on the little fingernail with the moon.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

St Hildegard of Bingen, her music and her visions of the Theophany of Divine Love and the Cosmic Egg. #nailart #medieval

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is Hildegard of Bingen as depicted in the Scivias. On the index fingernail is red and brown medieval music notation on a white background. On the middle fingernail is the Theophany of Divine Love. On the ring fingernail is the cosmic egg. On the little fingernail Hildegard is written in red on a white background.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

31 today. My face instead of my nails for once.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Empress Matilda (1102 - 1167) and the White Ship Disaster. Inspiration: You're Dead to Me episode feat. @gabbystorey.bsky.social , Cariad Lloyd and @gregjenner.bsky.social (Thumbnail out of action 😭)

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the index fingernail is Empress Matilda as depicted in the 15th Century History of England. On the middle fingernail is the White Ship Disaster, with a sinking wooden boat. On the ring fingernail is Empress Matilda as depicted in the 12th Century Gospels of Henry the Lion. On the little fingernail are the dates 1102 to 1167.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

If I had the habit of biting my nails, this design would be gone by now with the tension of this curling match... #TeamGB

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a Union Jack. On the index fingernail are the Olympic rings. On the middle fingernail is a curling stone. On the ring fingernail is Tina, the stout Olympic mascot. On the little fingernail is an Italian flag with a 26.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Tonight marks the return of The Great Pottery Throw Down on Channel 4. Whilst my long nails probably mean I should steer clear of shaping clay, I had to have a go at recreating the look of porcelain and raku! @potterythrow.bsky.social #potterythrowdown #nails #nailart

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a grey background with The Great Pottery Throw Down written in white and orange. On the index fingernail is a blue background with a brown brick bottle kiln. On the middle fingernail is a white background with a black feather and black cracking lines. On the ring fingernail is a white background with blue floral and geometric patterns. On the little fingernail is a grey background with black curving coil lines.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Legenda: The Real Women Behind the Myths That Shaped Europe by Dr Janina Ramirez. Stunning cover art that I just had to have a go at replicating. Unsurprisingly, not the first time Joan of Arc had featured in my nail art... @drjaninaramirez.bsky.social

A photo of a hand with nails painted. All have a blue background. On the thumbnail is Joan of Arc, with a yellow sun halo. On the index fingernail is a colourful heavenly cloud. On the middle fingernail is a colourful heavenly cloud with yellow gate bars. On the ring fingernail is the word Legenda in yellow. On the little fingernail are yellow stars.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Sunday night and Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing is back 🎣🥰

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail are two fishing men and a dog on a pier, silhouetted against a pale sun. On the index fingernail are some reeds and the words 'Mortimer &', against a pale orange background. On the middle fingernail is the word Whitehouse against a pale orange background. On the ring fingernail is a teal background with Gone Fishing in light blue. On the little fingernail is a teal background with pale orange fish.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

By order of the traitors... Nails are at the ready for another week of Celebrity Traitors! #thetraitors #celebritytraitors

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

The Red Roses, Women's Rugby World Cup Champions 2025

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a white background with a red rose with green thorns. On the index fingernail is a blue background with rugby goalposts and grass. On the middle fingernail is a white background with Red Roses in red. On the ring fingernail is a dark green background with a white rugby pitch outline. On the little fingernail is a white background with a white rugby ball.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

The sad news of the death of Allan Ahlberg brought back floods of childhood memories of the beautiful books he created alongside his wife, Janet. Books featured: Each Peach Pear Plum, The Jolly Pocket Postman, Funnybones and Peepo!

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a green background with a pale tree branch, bearing a peach, pear and plum. Two sheep stand on the branch. On the index fingernail is a pale blue background with a postman dressed in bright blue. On the middle fingernail is a black background with a white skeleton wearing a red top hat. On the ring fingernail is a pale yellow background with a baby in a black pram. On the little fingernail is a pale yellow background with Ahlberg written in black.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Inspired by the recently revealed Roman fresco that was reconstructed by the Museum of London Archaeology. (Admittedly, I don't think the real thing looks quite this bright) www.bbc.com/news/article...

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a dark blue background with layers of increasingly lighter blue, overlapping tear drop shapes, with a white flower on top. On the other nails is a teal strip running along the bottom of the nail, with a navy one above, and then a large block of yellow. Each colour is separated by white lines.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

And way back in 2017 (?), @gregjenner.bsky.social appeared on the Art Detective podcast, hosted by @drjaninaramirez.bsky.social, to discuss the Bayeux Tapestry. Surprise surprise, I was inspired. Maybe a new nail design is in order if I make the trip to the British Museum...

A hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a black horse with gold bridle. On the index fingernail is a dark haired man wearing a crown. On the middle fingernail is the centre of a ship with colourful shields l. On the ring fingernail is a soldier with an arrow in the eye. On the little fingernail is the date 1066.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Jane Austen nails, for her 250th anniversary year. First time experimenting with stickers, and a return to the old newspaper transfer trick.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a pink background with the silhouette of a woman in black within a white oval. On all the other fingernails, the background is white with black newspaper print, with pink flowers on top.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Arise, England: Six Kings and the Making of the English State by Caroline Burt and Richard Partington I enjoyed a recent panel discussion on medieval kingship, featuring Caroline and Richard, and couldn't resist the challenge presented by their book's artwork!

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a white background with Arise, England in red. On the little fingernail is a white background with a blue block and a red block. On the other fingernails are black and white sketches of medieval kings, with alternating blue and white backgrounds.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

I swear it's real ice. 📷 = Maurice Wilson

A young brunette woman slides out in a lunge position on curling ice, wearing a Welsh shirt

A man and a woman sweep a curling stone, wearing red Welsh shirts

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

It was a Welsh Grand Slam at the 2025 Curling Four Nations, as we retained all three trophies against Scotland, Ireland and England!

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is the Four Provinces of Ireland flag. On the index fingernail is the English flag. On the middle fingernail is the Welsh flag. On the ring fingernail is the Scottish flag. On the little fingernail is a grey curling stone with a red handle.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

My TBR list is extensive but one book that is certainly on there for 2025 is 'The Eagle and The Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV' by Helen Castor. The cover art features the exquisite White Hart from the Wilton Diptych, which I have paired with the kings' portraits and Henry's eagle.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a portrait of Richard II on a gold background. On the index fingernail is black eagle with a crown dangling from its breast, on a gold background. On the middle fingernail is a white male deer with a crown chained around it's next, on a gold background. On the ring fingernail is a portrait of Henry IV on a black background. On the little fingernail is a crown against a gold background.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Tonight, I'll be watching the exploits of Ted the Dog (and I suppose Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse) as they fish the River Lot in south west France. What do we reckon are the chances of Bob falling over? Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing at 21:15 on BBC Two.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl airs this Christmas and I for one, am extremely excited about it. I quote these characters on a daily basis, particularly when cheese is around... 🧀 Until then, there's a whole set of idents on BBC One!

A photo of a hand with nails painted. All nails have a pale blue background. On the thumbnail is Wallace, a man in a green vest. On the index fingernail is Feathers Mcgraw, a penguin wearing a red glove on its head. On the middle fingernail is a gnome, with a red hat. On the ring fingernail is Gromit, a dog. On the little fingernail is W&G in orange.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

While medieval history will always be my first love, I do love to paint nails for other periods too! Some ancient examples below as proof... If you have any suggestions do send them my way 😊

A photo of a hand with nails painted with orange, blue and white mosaics.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. Each nail has a grey background with pale figures of people or a dog on top. The little fingernail is labeled Pompeii.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. The thumbnail says Rotten Romans in purple against a green background. The next three nails have Romans in the Horrible Histories cartoon style. The little fingernail says HH.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

If it's medieval you're after, I've got plenty more in the back catalogue 🤣 Some favourites: - Weird animals - Gerald of Wales - Lindisfarne Gospel - Venice

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Two of the medieval women featured in the exhibition are the 14th Century writer Christine de Pizan and Joan of Arc, who I have previously posted elsewhere.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a close up of a woman's face, in white and grey. On the index fingernail is brown calligraphy. On the middle fingernail is a set of colourful books. On the ring fingernail is a blue background with a gold fleur-de-lis. On the little fingernail is a rose.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a young woman with brown hair. On the index fingernail is a blue background with a gold fleur-de-lis. On the middle fingernail is a fire with a stake. On the ring fingernail is a white background with Jhesus Maria in gold. On the little fingernail is a brown crucifix on a silver background.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Nails celebrating the British Library's exhibition Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. Never visited the library before but could not pass up on the opportunity to see these stunning manuscripts up close. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a beige background with 'For I am a woman' written in brown calligraphy. On the index fingernail is a blue background with a white female figure wearing a crown. On the middle fingernail is a blue background with a white female figure wearing a habit. On the ring fingernail is a pink background with a woman wearing a habit and holding a gold book. On the little fingernail is a blue background with MW in white.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 24/10/2024

Series 2 of Alma's Not Normal is hilarious, eye-opening and heart-wrenching. The performances and dynamics between Sophie Willan, Siobhan Finneran and Lorraine Ashbourne are just incredible. And I'm very envious of the Bagpuss-esque coat.

A photo of a hand with nails painted. On the thumbnail is a purple and pink gradient with Alma's Not Normal in white. On the index fingernail is a sparkly pink background with a hot pink moped. On the middle fingernail is leopard print. On the ring fingernail is a white background with Leanne's Bar in sparkly peach and magenta. On the little fingernail is white and pink uneven stripes.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 24/09/2024

Calling all young writers, teachers, parents and guardians! The BBC's 500 Words storytelling competition is back, supported by BBC Teach. The focus is on diving into your imagination, not perfect spelling or grammar, so go for it 😊

A photo of a hand with nails painted. Background on all is navy. The thumbnail says 500 Words in yellow. The index fingernail is a rainbow. The middle fingernail is a volcano. The ring fingernail is a rocket. The little fingernail is a ghost.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 01/09/2024

I'm a lifelong history geek, with a particular interest in medieval history and medieval women.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 01/09/2024

Despite a distinct lack of any singing, acting or dancing talent of my own, I adore musicals and love a trip to the theatre.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 01/09/2024

Outside of work, I have represented Wales internationally in curling for the last three years. In April 2024, we won silver at the European Curling Championships C-Division. And before you ask, yes, I do both the sweeping and the sliding. And I'm a rubbish ice skater.

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Anna Carruthers @annaecarruthers.bsky.social · 01/09/2024

Currently, I'm working as an Assistant Producer for BBC Bitesize, writing and commissioning general knowledge/interest articles and quizzes.

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