Painter, scenic artist and wood engraver, born in Dublin, Ireland, full name Francis J H Graves, who was educated in Belfast, attending Belfast Art School. After a few years in Paris he moved to England where he was employed by Ealing Film Studios as a scenic artist, working on many well-known productions. When World War II broke out Graves was asked to oversee a troupe organised by ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association), simultaneously to work as a war artist to depict how troops at home and abroad were being entertained. After travelling around Britain, from 1943 Graves toured the Middle East, based in Cairo, returning to England in 1945. He then journeyed around Germany for six months with ENSA, arriving back in London in 1946.