From Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to civil rights activist Rosa Parks, history is brimming with female pioneers who have challenged convention to change the world in a variety of ground-breaking ways.

Now they're being honoured in an unexpected and innovative way with these feminist-inspired nail wraps: all the proof you need that nail art can be intellectual as well as fluffy.

The unusual designs were dreamt up by London-based artist Phoebe Davies, who spent this year working with a group of young women aged 15-18 years from Life for Girls, a female pupil referral unit based in Lewisham, to research attitudes towards female imagery and feminism.

Phoebe came up with the imagery after discussing influential women and the culture of nail art with the group, in an initiative supported South London Gallery’s education program.

Take a look at the resulting work, Nailwraps: Influences, below or in full on Phoebe's website here.

Images: Designed by Phoebe Davies, made in sponsored_longforms with Life for Girls and the South London Gallery

Feminist nail art