ETHEL LEONTINE GABAIN (1883-1950) 'War Work at Williams & Williams Reliance Works, Chester'

Brought up in an Anglo-French family, Ethel studied at the Slade, in Paris and at the Central School of Art where she developed her lithographic techniques.  She was a founder member, with her husband, John Copley, of the Senefelder Club, set up to pursue and exhibit modern lithography,  She also worked as a book illustrator and painter and at the outbreak of WW2, she was employed as an Official War Artist, with the specific brief to document the war work undertaken by women in what had been traditionally male crafts and trades.  She also received commissions from a number of commercial organisations involved in war work, including Ferranti and Richard Haworth.

This lithograph is from a series commissioned by Williams & Williams and depicts lathe operators making aircraft parts.