Painter, draughtsman and etcher, born in London, where she continued to live for some years. Studied at South-East Essex Technical College, Dagenham, with David Bomberg, then followed him to the City Literary Institute (where she met Cliff Holden, with whom she was closely associated for many years) and the Borough Polytechnic, 1945–51. Attended Slade School of Fine Art as a mature student, 1956–9; had a strong influence on many students, including Mario Dubsky; gained the Steer Medal, 1958, and several major prizes; but left without a diploma because of her refusal to attend lectures and examinations on perspective, which she considered outdated. As a founder-member of the Borough Group Mead participated in Group shows and did much to disseminate Bomberg’s ideas in Britain and abroad, notably through her association with Andrew Forge.