Dorothy Coke taught at Brighton from 1939 and was also a prolific artist. Her memorial retrospective took place at Grand Parade in 1981 at the behest of the late Norman Clark.

In 1947, Brighton became a regional art college, attracting more students from a wider area. War and it’s aftermath had already delayed building plans and by the late 1950s the old school desperately lacked space and equipment. Nevertheless Dorothy Coke’s 34 numbered drawings were a ‘requiem’ – the word ‘Why’ appears alongside one of them.