Eva Aldbrook

1925 – 2019

BIO

Eva initially trained as a classical dancer before transferring to St Martin’s School of Art under the legionary fashion and costume tutor Muriel Pemberton. In 1943 she was called up to either entertain the troops abroad as a dancer for The Allied Ballet Company or work for the Kodak Research Department. She chose the research department and remained there until then end of the war. This allowed her to continue her costume and design studies on day release each week and at weekends at the V&A. In 1945, she was appointed head designer at Nathan’s Theatrical Costumiers working on films and stage productions. In 1949, she left Nathan’s to become a freelance fashion illustrator. The Observer was the first to commission a feature. Eva became the ‘darling’ of the British Press, receiving commissions from the most respected fashion editors of the time. Including editor, Alisa Garland at British Vogue (1961 – 1964), Eileen Ascroft at The Evening Standard and the doyenne of London’s newspaper and fashion world Ernestine Carter, Associate Editor of The Sunday Times (1955 – 1972). Her understanding of movement and fashion allowed her to illustrate with great flair and grace, capturing the essence of 1950’s and 1960’s fashion.