Hilda Carline studied at Percyval Tudor-Hart’s School of Painting
in Hampstead (1913) and served with the Women’s Land Army
(1916’18), before enrolling at the Slade School of Fine Art under
Henry Tonks in 1918. Quickly gaining critical recognition, she
exhibited at the LG (1921), the RA and the NEAC. 

This impressive start to her career faltered, particularly after
she married, in 1925, the artist Stanley Spencer (1891’1959).
Their turbulent union resulted in periods when Carline hardly
painted at all and eventually, in 1942, she suffered a breakdown. 

Nevertheless, she never neglected painting entirely, and even
during these challenging times produced animated, vigorous work,
such as her 1933 portrait of Patricia Preece (1894’1966) ‘ her
husband’s mistress ‘ entitled Lady in Green. 

After her divorce in 1937, Carline began working more
frequently once again, producing numerous pastels which explored
her religious beliefs.