Hermes was a very skilled draughtsperson and engraver and spent a large proportion of her life teaching various techniques of drawing and engraving in London art schools. Starting out at the Camberwell School of Art in 1945, she then went on to teach wood engraving at Central School of Arts in 1948, life drawing and engraving at St Martin’s and, from 1966, wood and lino block printing at the Royal Academy Schools. Her engravings were selected for the Venice Biennale in 1940, but the British exhibit was cancelled due to the outbreak of war. A number of Penguin Books featured her engravings including 'The Complete Angler' (1939) by Isaak Walton.