Lilian Somerville joined the British Council in 1941.

She worked first as a teacher, and then as organiser of art exhibitions on behalf of the Allied governments, who wanted to show the work of their nationals in the UK.

In 1947 she became director of the Fine Arts Department and held that post till her retirement in 1970.

She was hugely influential in promoting British contemporary art abroad.  Her choice of the then little-known artists such as Henry Moore to exhibit at the Venice Biennale did much to raise their profile in the UK and internationally.

Another of her legacies is our collection of contemporary works of art, which have toured the world bringing British art to new audiences.