Born in Harrow-on-the-Hill, England, Newcomb began painting relatively late in life, having taught Natural Sciences until she married in 1950.

Her naïve style of painting and drawing came to the attention of Ben Nicholson, who compared her work to Alfred Wallis and thought that it contrived the tradition inspired by British painters such as L.S.Lowry and Winifred Nicholson.

Her work has been widely exhibited and can be found in the collection of the Arts Council of Great Britain, amongst others. Oil paintings are now very rare and command huge sums when they appear on the market. A stock of watercolours and drawings by Newcomb is always on show at the gallery, but those clients hoping to acquire an oil should ask to be informed specially.