Damaris Evans

Background

Evans is the daughter of writer, James Martin Evans (Born 1933) who graduated from Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. Her mother the artist, Frances Rachel Evans (Holiday) (Born 1939, granddaughter of Sir William Rothenstein) who graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design. Evans is sister to Dr. Chloe Evans, half sister to Dr. Juliet Evans and step sister to journalist, Rosie Mellor.

Evans is the great granddaughter of Sir William Rothenstein, who was Principal of The Royal College of Art from 1920 to 1935. Rothenstein's family were all involved in the arts, one brother being the painter Albert Rutherston and siblings Charles Rutherston and Emily Hesslein both art collectors. Evans' great grandmother was the actress Lady Alice Mary Rothenstein, (stage name Alice Kingsley) daughter of the pre-Raphaelite artist Walter John Knewstub and the famed pre-Raphaelite muse, Emily Renshaw. Knewstub met Renshaw whilst working as Dante Gabriel Rossetti's assistant. Lady Rothenstein, like her mother, was a feted beauty and the sitter for many paintings and sketches now held in the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate and many other collections. Lady Rothenstein's sister, Grace, was married to the artist William Orpen. The family was also connected to the Bloomsbury Set. Sir William and Lady Rothenstein's children were Sir John Rothenstein, the director of The Tate Gallery from 1938 to 1964; English printmaker Michael Rothenstein and Evans' grandmother, Bertha (Betty) Holiday (Rothenstein).

Evan's maternal Grandmother, Betty Holiday, studied at The Royal College of Art and was a sculptor and a contemporary of Henry Spencer Moore and Dame Barbara Hepworth. Betty's husband, Evans' maternal grandfather Dr. Ensor Holiday, was a writer, scientist, mathematician and psychologist who invented Altair Designs. Holiday worked alongside Roger Burrows in the 1970s and was acquainted with Albert Einstein. Ensor and Betty's daughter, Evans' aunt, is the sculptor Ros Newman. Ensor Holiday was born into the Holiday artistic dynasty, being the great nephew of Henry Holiday and a cousin of Gilbert Holiday. Henry Holiday, an esteemed pre-Raphaelite artist, was also the illustrator of Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark.

Evans is the niece to Television Executive, Nick Elliott and painter, Gillian Elliot who both graduated from the University of Oxford. Nick Elliot's career in television spanned from 1966- 2007. Elliot was the Director of Drama for ITV from 1994 to 2007 and the creator of many award-winning dramas, including The South Bank Show.

Career

Damaris Evans studied Fashion Design with Print Making at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. In 2001, she started the business with a £5,000 loan from The Prince's Trust. The designer is best known for creating the original trademark design of the back bow knicker, which 'instantly sparked a craze of copies'. 'Likeness of the bow knicker were spotted in New Look, River Island, La Perla and up-market underwear brand Myla' whom the company has successfully settled out of court with.

Damaris' first collection showcased at London Fashion Week September 2001 and was sponsored by The Prince's Trust.

Damaris was showcased at London Fashion Week's New Generation, Sponsored by The British Fashion Council in September 2003 and February 2004.

The diffusion line Mimi Holliday was then founded in 2004 which went on to introduce Mimi Holliday Beachwear in 2008.

Damaris' received the 'Young Enterprise of the Year' award for the Spring/Summer 2003 collection at Elle Style Awards . In 2005 she was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen for a Celebration of British Design.

Personal life

Damaris has one daughter, Kitty, with partner Neil Phillips of Knowle Hall.