Stella was born in Dudley road Hospital in Handsworth Birmingham in October 1951.
In the middle of the Country, in the middle of the 20th. Century to Fred and Kathleen
(Col) Brain. They lived with Col’s  mother in Boulton road Handsworth until 1956
when they all moved out to Earlswood Lakes near Solihull. Stella attended the village
school, and on passing her eleven plus went on to Stratford-upon-Avon grammar
school for girls.
On leaving school Stella went to Leamington College to do an art course with
a view to going on to art college which she did. She took a diploma course
in Fine Art at Birmingham College of Art.The same year she graduated
1971 Stella married long time boyfriend and art teacher John Harwood.
They lived and worked  in Birmingham until 1973 when they emigrated
to Toronto Canada to join John’s parents who moved there when his
sister married a Canadian. Stella & John only lived there for a year as
the Canadian Education Board would not let John teach with his British
qualifications. On their return to Britain John applied for and secured a
post as head of the art dept. In a Gloucestershire secondary school so
they moved to Cheltenham. Stella worked for  Marks & Spencer and
then a local Art Shop before getting a job with The Post Office - Royal
Mail in 1976. The early mornings suited Stella’s passion for collecting
as she got to peoples dustbins before the dustmen - its surprising what
people throw away, and jumble sales on Saturdays after delivery.