Edith Elizabeth Downing (January 1857 – 3 October 1931) was a British artist, sculptor and suffragette.

[3][1] An alabaster altarpiece she created as a memorial to Wilfrid Clive, who died at the age of 26 having been overcome by sulphurous volcanic fumes whilst on a visit to Dominica, can also be seen in St. Peter's Church, Wormbridge, Herefordshire.

In 1908, Edith and her sister, Caroline Lowder Downing, joined the Chelsea branch of the more radical Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).

[8] Violent outbursts and damaging of property were both tactics used by the WSPU to raise public awareness of their movement.

[7] On March 1, 1912, Downing was arrested a second time for participating in another window-breaking WPSU protest held by a group of about 200 organised activists, including Edith's sister Caroline, in the West End of London.

[10] Downing participated in the hunger strikes and was subsequently force fed during her time spent in Holloway Prison.

[10][12] Downing was one of the activists who spoke about the police brutality and stated that some women were prepared to die for the right to vote.

[4][7] Edith Downing was given a Hunger Strike Medal 'for Valour' by WSPU for her time spent in prison.

[5][16] Not much is known about this piece, however, given Downing’s suffragette and political activity, it is possible that it was inspired by a financial crisis that occurred during her lifetime.

[5][16] The artwork, Music, created in 1897, depicts a bust of a young unnamed woman with folded arms made out of bronze.

[18] Another possible title of this artwork is “Music sent up to God.”[17] Sulks, a bust created in 1906 appears to be a young child with a bow in her hair looking downward.