Stella Lewis Marks MVO, RMS, ASMP (27 November 1887 – 18 November 1985) was born in the City of Melbourne, Australia. She was an artist, active in Australia, the United States of America, and Great Britain. She is best known as a portrait miniaturist, although she also made larger works in oils, charcoal, and pastels.

She was a member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, and the American Society of Miniature Painters. In the early 20th century, she painted a number of well-known personalities, particularly in America,The Age, Melbourne (17 February 1926) page 15 before moving to the UK in 1934.

In 1948, she was commissioned to paint a portrait miniature of Queen Elizabeth II, who was then H.R.H. the Princess Elizabeth, by the Duke of Edinburgh,Women and Home Magazine, February, 1967, Prince Philip's paintings on pages 22 and 57 and since then she painted 14 miniatures of members of the British royal family.Foskett, Daphne (1987) Miniatures: Dictionary and Guide, London: Antique Collectors' Club, Pages 461-462. She was awarded the honor, Member of the Royal Victorian Order on 30 December 1978.The London Gazette, 30 December 1978, issue/47723/supplement/page 4

She was married to fellow artist Montagu Marks, who became prominent in the British film industry as general manager of London Films.Charles Drazin (2002) Korda: Britain's Movie Mogul, London: Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd, Chapter 9,

Life and work

Stella Marks was born in Carlton, Melbourne, Australia, to Mary (née Fennell) Lewis and James Joseph Lewis. She received her artistic training at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School under Lindsay Bernard Hall and Frederick McCubbin.Foskett, Daphne, Op cit.

In 1912, she painted her first miniature after being persuaded to do so by fellow artists Penleigh Boyd and Montagu Marks."A Melbourne Letter", The Leader, 29 January 1938, pages 42 and 49

She moved to New York City with her husband in 1914 and quickly made a name for herself in artistic and society circles.Table Talk Magazine, 18 February 1926, page 23 In 1916 she was commissioned by the Governor General of Canada, the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, to paint a miniature of his daughter, the Princess Patricia of Connaught. It was reported that 100,000 copies of the miniature, which was considered by the Princess to be the best existing portrait of herself, were printed and sold on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross.Colour Magazine, December, 1916, pages 178 and 179 Signed copies were given by Princess Patricia to the next-of-kin of each fallen member of her regiment, "The Princess Pat's".The Buenos Aires Herald, 10 November 1936, page 9

Some other notable portrait miniatures painted between 1915 and 1934 during her time in America (which also included trips to Japan, Australia, and Great Britain) were of the famous spy, Sydney Reilly, and his 'wife' Nadine;The Daily Telegraph, 13 November 1967, page 16 the actresses Marjorie Williamson, Mrs. Madge Carr and Edith Day; musician, Jan Cherniavsky; multi-millionaire, Knox Studebaker; a Japanese lady, Mrs. T. Akaboshi; the occultist, Aleister Crowley; musician and dancer, Maud Allan; and Joseph McKenna, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.The Age, Op. cit. The latter two were purchased by the Felton Bequest on behalf of the National Gallery of Victoria's permanent collection.The National Gallery of Victoria. Accession Numbers 456/4, Felton Bequest 1938, and 1957/3, Felton Bequest 1926

In 1934, although not an American citizen, Marks was offered the presidency of the American Society of Miniature Painters. She had to turn down the honor due to her move to the UK."A Melbourne Letter", Op. cit. She left New York because her husband, Montagu Marks, joined the film mogul Alexander Korda and became general manager of London Films Productions. At the time Montagu Marks was pivotal in helping to secure funding for Alexander Korda from Prudential Insurance.Drazin, Charles, Op.cit.

Between 1931 and 1940, a number of Marks' works were exhibited at the London Royal Academy of Arts.London Royal Academy of Fine Arts Exhibitions, Frick Art Reference Library: (1931), page 125 numbers 1049, 1122, 1130; (1936) page 127 numbers 1074, 1104, 1144; (1937) page 127 numbers 971 and 1048; (1940) page 26 numbers 1016 and 1068

In 1941, she painted a miniature of Mary Churchill, Winston Churchill's youngest daughter.The Daily Telegraph, 1 November 1941, page 2 It is said that Winston Churchill always carried the miniature with him on his wartime journeys."Finest Hour", Journal of the International Churchill Society, Summer, 1986, page 5

In 1948, on the recommendation of Sir James Mann, director of the Wallace Collection, the Duke of Edinburgh commissioned Marks to paint H.R.H. the Princess Elizabeth.Women and Home Magazine, Op.cit. As a result of this Royal commission, she painted miniatures of Prince Philip and all the royal children,Foskett, Daphne, Op.cit. including the first ever portrait of Prince Charles, aged two.The Daily Express, 2 December 1950, page 5

Another notable miniature of Marks' later work was a "miniature within a miniature" of Sir Winston Churchill painted in 1966.The Daily Telegraph, 19 October 1966, page 21

On 30 December 1978, Marks was awarded the honor, Member of the Victorian Order.The London Gazette, Op. cit.

In 1980, she resigned from the Royal Miniature Society because she had become almost completely blind.

Marks died on 18 November 1985, in Kent, United Kingdom.

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