Description
Object description
British civilian artist evacuated from Leytonstone to Newton Abbott, GB, 1939-1942; aircraft factory worker in Leytonstone, 1942-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Leyton and Leytonstone, GB, 1922-1939: memories of childhood and education; interest in art before war; visits to art museums; awareness of events in Europe; memories of events in Britain during 1930s; plans for art training in Walthamstow; evacuation to Devon. Aspects of period as civilian in Newton Abbott, GB, 1939-1942: joining of art school; details of training received at Newton Abbott Art School including contact with potter Bernard Leach; meeting of future husband; reactions at start of war; return to London. Aspects of period as civilian in Leytonstone, 1942-1945: details of work making propellers for Supermarine Spitfires; details of bus journeys to work including during blackouts and air raids; description of V1 raids including damage caused; description of work making propellers for Supermarine Spitfires; entertainment at work; make-up of workforce.
REEL 2 Continues: male-only work; opinion of work; security in factory and methods of working on art; reasons for making paintings of factory; impressions of colleagues; rations; details of work in spring factory; clothing worn; sketching in spring factory; relationship between male and female workers; story of lighthouse made at first factory; opinion of what constitutes a war artist; knowledge of war artists; leisure activities; period of engagement.
REEL 3 Continues: activities on VE and VJ Days; demobilisation; details of pay. Aspects of period as civilian in GB from 1945: decision to take place at Royal College of Art; continuation of austerity; details of training received from Design School; ease of gaining illustration work following war; status of Royal College of Art; reduction in importance of career following marriage; story of factory paintings following war including visits to Victoria & Albert Museum; attempts at gaining commissions; story of gaining work as design teacher at Birmingham College of Arts and Craft; details of work.
REEL 4 Continues: return to Leytonstone; reasons for lull in artwork; move to Ongar and formation of Ongar Art Society; activities of society; details of paintings made since formation of Ongar Art Society; influences on artwork; story of rescue of war artwork and arrangement for its donation to the Imperial War Museum; opinion of why she should not be considered a war artist; story of presenting work to Imperial War Museum including gift received in return. Commentary on paintings made during Second World War and donated to Imperial War Museum in 2005: details of Arriving at the Factory and Locker Room; memories of tea breaks and fashion.
REEL 5 Continues: details of air raids and shelters; details of storeroom at Supermarine Spitfire propeller factory; background to paintings of storeroom; details of work at spring factory; memories of scenes at Crooks Ferry roundabout; discussion of difference between paintings and photography.