Artist Mary Fedden Dies
Artistic community in Chiswick pay tribute
The popular and prolific artist Mary Fedden OBE has died at her home in Chiswick aged 96.
Born in Bristol in 1915, she was famous for her distinctive style and lived for many years along the river Thames with her husband, the artist Julian Trevelyan, who predeceased her.
Artist Anthea Craigmyle, a neighbour and friend for over 30 years said the artistic community of Chiswick was in shock at the news.
“She will be terribly missed. She was hugely important, and a major talent, an incredibly gifted person. She was also a very generous spirit.”
Mary Fedden died peacefully at home in the early hours of Friday morning (June 22nd).
In the early 1930s she studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, and taught in Bristol until the Second World War broke out. She married the artist Julian Trevelyan in 1951.
She was the first woman to teach painting at the Royal College of Art (1958-1964), and her pupils included David Hockney and Allen Jones. She also taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey from 1965-1970.
Known for her distinctive style of flower paintings and still lifes, she was often reminiscent of Matisse and she had a bold expressive style in her work which contained a richness of colour and texture.
She exhibited widely throughout the UK since the 1950s and her most recent exhibition was at the Bohun Gallery. Her work can be found in numerous public and private collections.
A former President of the RWA she was an Academician of the Royal Academy and held several honorary degrees.
June 23, 2012