Keenly aware of the opportunities that existed on the other side of the Atlantic, Madame Yevonde assembled a portfolio of her best work and in February 1936, set off for New York. At that time, the much-heralded ocean liner RMS Queen Mary was being fitted out on the Clyde and interest in the magnificent new ship was as intense in the States as it was in England. To whet the appetites of its readers still further, Fortune magazine was planning a major feature article on the design and construction of the ship, for which they required a number of photographs.

When Madame Yevonde called in with her portfolio, they were completely bowled over and commissioned her to supply four images of artists and craftsmen at work decorating the interior of the ship.

On her return to England, Madame Yevonde set off for the Clyde with all her cameras, lighting and other equipment, a major logistical exercise in itself in those days. She spent several days on the ship, taking no fewer than 46 shots in all of artists and craftsmen at work in various parts of the ship.

On the advice of Fortune's London representative, she sent twelve of the best images to New York for a final selection, and so delighted was the editor with these beautiful images that every single one was reproduced in the article. In the following year, some of these same images featured with others by the artist in an exhibition 'Photography 1839 -1937' at the New York Museum of Modern Art.