Nan Youngman was born in Maidstone in 1906 and trained at the Slade School of Art from 1924–27. Needing to finance her career as an artist by teaching, she went on to the London Day Training College. There she was taught by Marion Richardson, who introduced her to Roger Fry and awakened her interest in children's art.

From 1929 until 1944 she divided her time between painting and teaching; she lectured for the London County Council, gave practical art classes for schoolteachers and taught part-time. The organization of exhibitions became an important part of her strategy for increasing children's awareness of art.

At the outbreak of war, she was evacuated with the children of Highbury Hill School where she ...