Marion Elizabeth Adnams was a versatile artist and teacher, born in Derby where she lived and worked for much of her life. Influenced by Magritte, Dalí, and Paul Nash, she created a personal visual language, often exploring female and male relationships. Before attending life classes at Derby School of Art, she was previously a modern languages teacher, gaining an honours degree in 1919. In 1936, she began painting and in 1938 obtained her art teacher’s diploma and was appointed art mistress at Homelands Grammar School for Girls, Derby. In 1946 she became the senior lecturer and head of the art department at Derby Training College.

Retiring in 1960, she then spent much of time painting in France. Her work included several murals for Immanual Church, Stapenhill, from 1964-65, but she was forced to stop painting in 1968 due to her failing eyesight. For 30 years throughout her career Marion Adnams showed continuously in London and the provinces and later had a retrospective exhibition at the Midland Group Gallery in 1971.

Photo of Marion Adnams, courtesy of the Modern British Art Gallery