Painter, stage designer and writer, born near St Petersburg, Russia, into a cosmopolitan family that included a number of distinguished artists. Her father was Louis Benois, architect to the Tsar; her uncle, who taught her, was the great stage designer Alexandre Benois. She also studied at St Petersburg Academy. Was married to the journalist Iona Ustinov, their son being the actor-playwright Peter Ustinov. Nadia Benois settled in England with her family and had early successful shows at the Little Gallery, 1924, and with Tooth, 1929. Also showed with the Goupil, Leicester and Matthiesen Galleries and widely abroad. Tate Gallery and Manchester City Art Gallery hold her work, which like the painter was colourful, warm and impulsive. Nadia Benois was for many years an exhibitor and member of NEAC.