The costume and scene designer Anthony Powell was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. He studied at the Central School of Art and Design and was apprenticed as an assistant to both Oliver Messel and Cecil Beaton. Working for both stage and screen, he has won three Academy Awards for Travels with My Aunt (1972), Death on the Nile (1978) and Tess (1979). In addition to his work for the theatre he has worked as a design consultant for hotels and restaurants and assisted in the restoration and renovation of Sutton Place, Guildford in the 1960s and 1970s. The drawing was given by the artist to Penelope Midgley who was the production executive on the 1981 film Priest of Love for which Anthony Powell designed the costumes. Priest of Love was directed by Christopher Miles and told the story of the relationship between D H Lawrence and his wife Frieda. It stared Ian McKellen and Janet Suzman.