Adams was born at Sudbury in Suffolk. Her parents, who had married in 1884, were Clara Elizabeth, née Bradley, and Henry George Adams, a chemist.[1] Her father's work took the family to Bedford, where Elinor was educated in local schools.[1] Adams went on to become a successful student at the Slade School of Art in London. In 1908 she won a prize for figure painting and was subsequently awarded a Slade scholarship and the British Institution scholarship of £100.[2][3] Upon leaving the Slade, Adams lived in Sevenoaks in Kent for many years and then in Surrey.[4]
Between 1917 and 1941 Adams was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy in London, with the New English Art Club, with the London Portrait Society and at the Goupil Gallery.[2][5][3] Between 1908 and 1941 Adams also showed on a regular basis with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours.[6] She was a member of the Society of Graphic Artists.[7] She mainly produced oil paintings of animals, landscapes and flowers and also portraits. She also illustrated a number of books and painted murals.[2][7][3] Adams lectured on craft techniques and was an art critic and reviewer for the magazine Home and Abroad.[2] A London street scene by Adams is in the collection of the British Museum.[8]
