Elsie Henderson was born in Eastbourne, Sussex. She studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, London and, in 1916, enrolled at Chelsea Polytechnic to study lithography. She is best known for animal drawings, and as an animal draughtsman she stood out among 20th Century artists. Her most characteristic works were those depicting the big cats, capturing their power and elegance. Many of her subjects were to be found in London Zoo in Regent’s Park. Although she exhibited in several group exhibitions alongside artists such as Paul Nash and Orovida Pissarro, it was not until 1985 that Henderson had her first solo exhibition.

Further reading:
Friends: Elsie Henderson (1880 - 1967) and Orovida Pissarro (1893 - 1968), Michael Parkin Ltd, London 1985 (introduction by Marjorie Althorpe-Guyton)