Percy Anderson (1851–1928) had private means and was part of a wealthy artistic and bohemian circle, which included Lord Ronald Gower, the courtier Alec Yorke and Charles Hamilton Aide. Anderson has been described as 'lover' of the novelist Hugh Walpole and through him met the novelist Joseph Conrad, whose portrait Anderson painted (now in the National Portrait Gallery, London).

Percy Anderson designed the costumes for all the original productions of the Savoy Operas and continued to design costumes for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, as well as for The Royal Opera House and Broadway amongst others. His design work was particularly innovative and has influenced many future designers in England as well as the United States. He thoroughly researched the period of the play to inform his design choices, sharing his research in numerous articles and being the first costume designer to define elements such as line, colour and texture.

Much of his work is held in public collections internationally and does not often come on to the open market. His designs are in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, National Library of Australia and The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. His portraits can be seen at the National Portrait Gallery and British Museum in London and the Louvre, Paris.