Eliza Simmance, as a designer, was one of the cornerstones of the change at Doultons from the High Victorian Gothic designs to simpler flowing Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs. She started work at Doultons in 1873 and only finished in 1928 – a period of 55 years.
She worked with the illustrious Barlow Family, Arthur, Florence, Hannah and Lucy, but by 1880 she already had a staff of artists under her turning out her designs. Fortunately for us, and unlike many of her contemporary designers, she signed many of the pieces that were made by other artists to her designs: it is not uncommon to see her signature with that of three or four other artists under an item designed by her.