During the Second World War, mural painter Anne Newland worked for the Ministry of Home Security Camouflage Establishment in the Midlands. Its aim was to conceal major British buildings from enemy sight, preventing their destruction from air raids. A military bulletin explained, ‘an old skating rink in Leamington is now filled with artists with hair of various lengths, painting camouflage schemes onto models of the most important factories engaged in our war production’. Newland showed the War Artists’ Advisory Committee drawings she made of the busy camouflage workshop and hoped to develop some of her squared-up designs into a mural scheme, however her suggestion was rejected. In addition to mural designs, she made ink drawings of working life in the camouflage studio, including this scene of making model buildings.