Helen Victoria Murray

Dr. Helen Murray is a Researcher at Lancaster University's School of Global Affairs, specializing in Victorian Cultural and Material History. She contributes to the UKRI-funded project The Victorian Hand: Emotions, Embodiment and Identity, Past and Present, which bridges historical and contemporary studies of embodiment.

• PhD (2023) in Interdisciplinary Victorian Studies from the University of Surrey

Her research focuses on intersections of Image-Text studies, Neo-Victorianism, and Photographic History, with methodological engagement in Thing Theory and Pre-Raphaelitism. She has conducted extensive archival research at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village and has previously worked with collections at The Glasgow School of Art.

Helen combines academic research with creative writing, having published fiction and poetry that reflect her scholarly themes of temporality and materiality. Her prior roles included designing object-based learning workshops and supporting curatorial activities across institutions like the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, and Surrey.