Kathleen Wallis Coales was born in 1893, her father wrote adventure books for children under the pseudonym ‘Mark Harborough’. Kathleen was a talented artist and author and she wrote and illustrated nine children’s novels as well as a number of short stories. She also illustrated her father’s and other writers’ work. She was a founder member of the Market Harborough Art Club in 1963.

The Harborough Collection includes many of her works and equipment such as watercolours, lino-cuts, paints, brushes, palette and books. Kathleen’s art equipment, the books ‘The Secret of the Fens’, ‘The Dodo’s Egg’ and others are on display on Harborough Museum, as well as her illustrations for other authors.