The British Scene - Department store scene, 1939-1946 - Grace Lydia Golden - Framed art Print

Born and raised in London, Grace Lydia Golden (1904–1993) was a versatile creative, excelling as a painter, printmaker, illustrator, and teacher. Her education journey includes a stint at the Chelsea School of Art from 1920 to 1923 under John Revel, followed by the Royal College of Art from 1923 to 1926, where she had the privilege of being taught by William Rothenstein. She even taught there for a year from 1926 to 1927, before continuing her studies at Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art.

Golden's work spanned a wide spectrum, from magazine illustrations to book artwork. She was known for her meticulous historical research and ability to meet tight deadlines. Her career as a book illustrator began in the early 1930s and she ventured into painting for exhibitions after coming into a small inheritance in 1934. She skillfully wielded both watercolours and oil paint in her artworks.

Golden's 1951 book, Old Bankside, is a testament to her meticulous detailing. Her work was so impressive that she was asked by Sam Wanamaker to serve as the official archivist for the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Playhouse. Besides that, she designed posters for the General Post Office, contributed to the Ministry of Information, and sketched historic buildings for the Pilgrim Trust.