Born in London in 1927, Daphne Padden was a graphic designer who created wonderful mid-century images such as this whimsical menu cover.

The daughter of an art teacher and travel poster designer, Daphne’s bold sense of style and color was much in demand from the 1950s to 1970s.

Her witty illustrations were used in many British-based companies such as British European Airways, the Post Office Savings Bank and Royal Blue Coach Services.

She also designed retail packaging and postage stamps for Jamaica, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent.

In her 50s, she changed tack and became a water colorist, painting the British countryside and its wildlife, especially birds in miniature.

This charming menu cover dated 1965 was for the restaurant aboard the SS Canberra, an ocean liner operated by the P&O Orient Lines on the Australia route from the UK.

Another artist’s work was on board. In 1961, while still a student at the Royal College of Art in London, David Hockney was commissioned to create a mural for the ‘Pop Inn,’’ a lounge for teenagers onboard.

Hockney graffitied and drew on the walls for five days and used the fee to travel to New York for the first time.

The SS Canberra was requisitioned as a troopship during the Falklands War in the 1980s, returned to civilian service as a cruise ship in the 1990s and was scrapped in 1998.

Daphne Padden died in 2009.