Born in London, Daphne Allen undertook training from an early age from her parents - her father, Hugh Allen, himself, was a recognized artist. This childhood tutelage provided Allen with considerable opportunity to develop as an artist and her first exhibition occurred at the tender age of 13 ,and she remains one of the youngest artists to exhibit with the Society of Women Artists.

As a child, suites of Allen's illustrations were published in two illustrated books, A Child's Visions and The Birth of the Opal. At the age of 17, a third book including her illustrations was published, The Cradle of Our Lord and in her adult life, a further very rare book including her illustrations was published, The Silver Birc...