Olga Lehmann, artist and film production designer: papers

Work (1929-1998); Biographical material (1926-2001).

Administrative/Biographical History: Olga Lehmann (10 February 1912 – 26 October 2001) was a British artist and film production designer. Born in Chile to British parents she studied at the Santiago College, and then moved to the UK aged 16. Lehmann studied at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1929 to 1935, and was taught by Henry Tonks, Randolph Schwabe, Allan Gwynne-Jones and Vladimir Polunin. Whilst at the Slade Lehmann specialized in theatrical design, mural decoration and portraiture, winning several prizes and awards. She gained professional experience painting scenery at the Royal Opera House, and after leaving the Slade was taken on by the French paint company Stic B, to paint murals for hotels. In 1941 she worked with the artist Gilbert Wood painting murals for the film Hi Gang . During the Second World War Lehmann and Wood were employed on official contracts to execute a series of murals for British canteens and restaurants to boost morale. Lehmann also had a permit to work as a war artist and produced paintings and sketches of bomb damage and shelter life in London. In 1939 she married Carl Huson and they had one son, Paul, born 1942. From 1941 for over 20 years she worked as an illustrator for the Radio Times, using the medium of scraperboard. During this period she produced illustrations for other publications including the BBC's Arabic Listener, London Calling, Odhams' Press and The London Mystery Magazine . Lehmann illustrated 9 books and designed record sleeves for Argo Record Company. She was commissioned to illustrate the 1951 Murphy Radio advertising campaign. Lehmann was employed as a Scenic Artist for British National Studios from 1944 to 1946, before going on to work for The Associated British Picture Corporation for six years, during which time she painted murals, scenery, and portraits of actors. She then undertook freelance work for film and television studios including Rank, Columbia, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Pinewood and Warner. She initially focused on scenery but from the 1950s onwards also worked on costumes and occasionally opening credits and props. Notable film credits include Robbery Under Arms, Tom Thumb, Round the World in Eighty Days, The Scapegoat, Let's Be Happy and The Millionairess . Her portraits included Dirk Bogarde, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn and three of the cast members of Dynasty. From 1960-1962 Lehmann worked for Mather and Crowther advertising agency as Film Art Director, and in 1962 she was appointed Art Director for Rank Advertising Films, a position she held for 10 years. In 1967 she formed 'Olga Lehmann Associates.' She was elected a fellow of The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Comments (F.R.S.A.) in 1987. She exhibited throughout her career, and would show with the Society of Graphic Artists and the National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers, being a member of both. She had solo exhibitions at John Whibley Gallery, London; AIA Gallery; London; Thaxted Guildhall; Rushmore Rooms, St. Catherine's College, Cambridge; County Library, Saffron Walden; Gainsborough's House, Sudbury; Galeria, Maldon and Canning House, London as well as retrospectives at the Augustine Gallery, Holt, and Barnsdale Gallery, Yoxford. Lehmann died in Saffron Walden, Essex in 2001.

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AAD/2002/14 given by Paul Huson, 2002 AAD/2015/2 given by Paul Huson and Robert Worley, 2015

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