137 Pillars House is proud to present an exquisite exhibition celebrating the work of an extraordinary artist, honouring a legacy of creativity, inspiration, discovery and free spiritedness.
A tribute both personal and historical, the East of Suez Exhibition featuring artworks by Peggy Braxton and textiles by her daughter Sabina, will be on display at the teak house from 2 November 2025 to 2 February 2026.
From her early training and service at the Foreign Office to years of travel across Asia from 1958–1976 with her husband, Peggy Braxton transformed her experiences into images of remarkable clarity and atmosphere. Her paintings—shaped by movement, light, and music, and inspired by places from Hong Kong to Bali to India—capture not only what is seen, but what is deeply felt. The exhibition gains a special resonance as it reunites her work with that of her daughter, Sabina Fay Braxton, within the very Chiang Mai home where many of these canvases were created—a living testament to creativity, now the centre piece of 137 Pillars House, where memories, light, and artistry continue to mingle.
“My mother was a rare free spirit and natural artist, always with a sketchbook in hand, eager to capture life’s fleeting beauty. Her art ranged from quick sketches to watercolours and oils, moving between the literal and abstract to reveal hidden truths. Life itself was her canvas, and her journeys across Asia — from dancers and landscapes to local crafts — shaped the world she shared with us. Exhibiting her work now, and alongside my own, feels both an honour and a homecoming”, said Sabina.
Sabina Fay Braxton is a talented and versatile textile artist and painter whose work seamlessly blends storytelling, craft, and contemporary expression. Born in Sweden and raised across Europe and Asia, she studied scenography at Villa Arson in Nice, building on formative experiences with Balinese and Thai dance as well as Indian miniature painting.
She has built her career through haute couture collaborations, film projects, and international interior design commissions. Her work has been showcased by leading houses such as Christian Lacroix and Harrods, as well as by renowned interior designers including Peter Marino and Jacques Garcia. Her exquisite fabrics have been featured at the Park Hyatt in Milan and Aman Jenna in Marrakech. Based in Chiang Mai, where she runs her atelier, The Tigris Moon, she now presents her work alongside that of her late mother at 137 Pillars House.
Sabina has held exhibitions in Monaco, Paris, New York, Riyadh, and Moscow. Her practice bridges art and design, merging painting, textiles, and craft traditions into a unified vision. Rooted in storytelling and cultural exploration, her work is both deeply personal and globally resonant, reflecting decades of immersion in diverse cultural traditions.
While Peggy’s original artworks are not for sale, a Giclée can be created for those wanting a museum quality reproduction of any of the pieces. A Giclée is a high-quality fine art print created using archival pigment-based inks on museum-grade papers, typically 100% cotton or a cotton-bamboo blend like Hahnemühle Bamboo Paper. Produced with high-resolution (300 DPI) inkjet printers, Giclées capture a wide colour gamut and precise detail, ensuring longevity and museum-quality results.
Anne Arrowsmith, General Manager of 137 Pillars House, explains how this very special exhibition came to be:
“My first encounter with Sabina was pure serendipity. After a gallery opening in Chiang Mai, I wandered into The Tigris Moon, a studio I had often passed but never explored. Candles led me inside to a treasure trove of her work, and Sabina appeared, graciously indulging my curiosity and awe. I later learned she and her mother had lived at Baan Borneo (as the old teak homestead was known in those days) in the 1970s. Over time, I became familiar with Sabina’s artistry—and in February, a single painting by her mother, Peggy, stopped me in my tracks: a stunning depiction of Kenjoki Temple in Kyoto. Though it was the only piece on display, I discovered Peggy’s full collection tucked away in crates.
Through persistence and Sabina’s generosity, Peggy’s work is now being revealed to a wider audience at 137 Pillars House. Balancing international commissions and travel, Sabina made this happen—a heartfelt tribute between two extraordinarily talented women. Witnessing these works for the first time is a true privilege.”
The East of Suez Exhibition will comprise around 25 paintings by Peggy Braxton, as well as artwork by her daughter Sabina, along with a selection of her exquisite soft furnishing pieces).
