Helen Chislett is a widely published English journalist and author who specializes in design and decoration at a luxury level, encompassing everything from interiors, art, antiques, and architecture to craft, gardens, and decoration. She is the author of 20 books and also runs her own consultancy, London Connoisseur, devoted to championing artisanship in design. Marianne Topham is a well-known visual artist whose artistic heritage runs deep, directly descended from both Francis William Topham, a close friend of Charles Dickens and an illustrator of his work, and Richard Topham, the distinguished 17th-century art collector and connoisseur. Marianne Topham's work has influenced leading modern interior designers and architects, and she has worked closely with Todhunter Earle for more than 20 years. She lives in England.