After war service, the artist trained at the Slade School in 1919-22 and joined the Royal College as Professor of Painting in 1923. In 1930-59 he taught at the Slade. This objective likeness with crisp drawing, textural subtlety and restrained colour is characteristic of the style of painting fostered by the Slade. Mrs Smith was Gwynne-Jones's mother's cleaning lady. The picture frames, brushes and other artists' equipment in the background indicate that she is posed in his studio.