During the Second World War much of London was scarred with bomb damage. The Lyons Teashops had not received any maintenance during the five years the war lasted and their interiors were showing signs of wear. Felix and Julie Salmon (Directors) felt that, rather than redecorate, they could be brightened by some pictures and, wanting to encourage young post war artists, approached Jack Beddington, Artistic Director of Shell-Mex, for advice. The first series of sixteen posters were printed in 1947 by the craftsmen lithographers at Chromoworks Ltd, London. Artists included L.S Lowry, Edward Ardizzone, Mary Kessell, Edward Bawden, John Nash and Anthony Gross. The print run for the initial sixteen commissions was 1500, no reprints were undertaken. By special request a copy of each of the lithographs was retained and viewed by Queen Mary. Due to the popularity of the prints two subsequent series were commissioned in 1951 and 1955, including artists such as Michael Ayrton, Edwin Ladell, John Minton, David Gentleman and John Piper. As the lithographs were printed on thin paper and often pasted directly onto the walls of the Lyons Teashops very few have survived intact.
