Donia Nachshen came from a Jewish family. Her brother, Maurice (Moshe ben Zvi) was born in 1899 and lived in Zhitomir, until he immigrated, as a child to London in 1906. Donia was born in Russia, and studied at Slade School of Fine Arts, London.
Nachschen was a book illustrator for John Lane who also designed posters for the Post Office, 1943. A selection of books that Nachshen illustrated include: fifteen original drawings for the book The Works of Oscar Wilde in c.1915; the fictional work The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler; The Red Lily in 1930; Little Lucky Lamb poetry in 1943; and The Haggadah translated by Cecil Roth, published by the Soncino Press.
Note: Sometimes referred to as Denia Machsen or Donia Machshen.