Born in Poland in 1895, Jankel Adler, settled in England following the upheaval of the Second World War. His early career developed in Germany amongst leading avant-garde artists of the time, Paul Klee was a particular influence. His work was targeted by the Nazis and included in the Degenerate Art Exhibition, leading him to exile in Paris in 1933. He befriended Picasso whose influence can be seen in such works as 'Portrait of Two Women'.

He joined the Polish Army during the War, and journeyed to Scotland. Discharged for health reasons, he moved to London in 1943 where he was an influential figure to a younger generation of British artists looking to the European avant-garde, including the likes of Robert Colquhoun and MacBryde, Keith Vaughan, John Minton and Prunella Clough. He later settled Aldbourne, Wiltshire through the support of a patron. He died there at the age of 53 in 1949.