Ravilious was commissioned by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee as an official War artist on 10th February 1940. The commission was to last six months and he was posted to the Admiralty’s North Command. During this period Ravilious recorded the sea battles of the North Atlantic and the coastal defences. Ravilious was commissioned again in July 1941, again attached to the Admiralty. Storm was painted on the Isle of May, in Scotland, near the Firth of Forth. The weekly east coast convoys formed there to make their hazardous voyages down to Sheerness in Kent.

This work was presented to the Collection by the War Artists' Advisory Committee.