Mary Fedden
Encyclopedia
Mary Fedden OBE, is a British
artist. Fedden is represented by Portland Gallery, London.
(who was in fact her uncle), Mary Fedden studied at the Slade School of Fine Arts, London from 1932 to 1936. She then returned to Bristol where she painted and taught until World War II
broke out. After the war was over, Fedden developed her own style of flower paintings and still lifes, reminiscent of artists such as Matisse and Braque.
In 1951, Mary Fedden married the artist Julian Trevelyan
. She went on to teach painting at the Royal College of Art
from 1958 to 1964, the first woman tutor to teach in the Painting School. Her pupils included David Hockney
and Allen Jones
. She subsequently taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School
at Cobham in Surrey, from 1965 to 1970.
“I really float from influence to influence…. I found the early Ben Nicholson
s fascinating as were the paintings of his wife Winifred
. I also admire the Scottish artist Anne Redpath
and the French painter Henri Hayden.”
Mary Fedden’s subjects are often executed in a bold, expressive style with vivid and contrasting colours, although her work of 2005-6 uses a narrower tonal range.
Her still lifes are often placed in front of a landscape, and she enjoys the contrasting of disparate, even quirky elements. When using watercolours she emphasises the rough texture of her favourite Indian papers.
She has also received several commissions for murals, notably the Festival of Britain in 1951, the P & O Liner Canberra in 1961, Charing Cross Hospital in 1980 (along with her husband, the artist Julian Trevelyan), Colindale Hospital in 1985, and for schools in Bristol, Hertfordshire and London. Her work can be found in numerous public and private collections such as the Chantrey Bequest for the Tate Gallery, Contemporary Art Society, and the City art galleries of Carlisle, Hull, Bristol, Edinburgh and Sheffield.
In 2008 Portland Gallery held a major retrospective for Mary Fedden with 125 paintings spanning six decades.
and their life together on the Thames at Chiswick
, London
. In 2007 a second book on Mary Fedden written by Christopher Andreae was published, tracing her whole career and up to 2006.
From 1984, Mary Fedden held the post of President of the RWA
, up until 1988, the same year her husband Julian Trevelyan died. She is an academician of the Royal Academy
and has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath
. She has also received an O.B.E. and an honorary degree from the University of Durham (2009) for her work.
Fedden has long been a close friend with retired British television presenter, Anna Ford
. Now in her nineties, Mary Fedden remains a prolific and popular painter. She continues to live and work in her studio on the River Thames, London.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
artist. Fedden is represented by Portland Gallery, London.
Early years
Sometimes mistakenly described as the daughter of Roy FeddenRoy Fedden
Sir Alfred Hubert Roy Fedden MBE was an engineer who designed most of Bristol Engine Company's successful aircraft engine designs.-Early life:...
(who was in fact her uncle), Mary Fedden studied at the Slade School of Fine Arts, London from 1932 to 1936. She then returned to Bristol where she painted and taught until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out. After the war was over, Fedden developed her own style of flower paintings and still lifes, reminiscent of artists such as Matisse and Braque.
In 1951, Mary Fedden married the artist Julian Trevelyan
Julian Trevelyan
Julian Otto Trevelyan, RA was a British artist and poet.Trevelyan was the only child of Robert Calverley Trevelyan and his wife Elizabeth van der Hoeven...
. She went on to teach painting at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
from 1958 to 1964, the first woman tutor to teach in the Painting School. Her pupils included David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
and Allen Jones
Allen Jones (sculptor)
Allen Jones RA is a British pop artist, best known for his sculptures. He lives and works in London.Jones was born in Southampton and from 1955 to 1961 studied at the Hornsey College of Art...
. She subsequently taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School
Yehudi Menuhin School
The Yehudi Menuhin School is a specialist music school in Surrey, England. It was founded in 1963 by the violinist Yehudi Menuhin.The School also gives pupils the best musical education any specialist schools can with a number of internationally main teachers, Simon Fischer , Natalya Boyarskaya ,...
at Cobham in Surrey, from 1965 to 1970.
Style and Influences
In 1995 she acknowledged in an interview in The Artist magazine:“I really float from influence to influence…. I found the early Ben Nicholson
Ben Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
s fascinating as were the paintings of his wife Winifred
Winifred Nicholson
Winifred Nicholson was an English painter, a colourist who developed a personalized impressionistic style that concentrated on domestic subjects and landscapes. In her work, the two motifs are often combined in a view out of a window, featuring flowers in a vase or a jug.Nicholson was born in...
. I also admire the Scottish artist Anne Redpath
Anne Redpath
Anne Redpath OBE was a Scottish artist whose vivid domestic still lifes are among her best-known works.Redpath's father was a tweed designer in the Scottish Borders. She saw a connection between his use of colour and her own...
and the French painter Henri Hayden.”
Mary Fedden’s subjects are often executed in a bold, expressive style with vivid and contrasting colours, although her work of 2005-6 uses a narrower tonal range.
Her still lifes are often placed in front of a landscape, and she enjoys the contrasting of disparate, even quirky elements. When using watercolours she emphasises the rough texture of her favourite Indian papers.
Exhibitions, Commissions and Collections
Fedden has exhibited in one-man shows throughout the UK every year since 1950. These included the Redfern Gallery, London from 1953, the New Grafton Gallery, London from the 1960s, the Hamet Gallery from 1970, the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol and at the Beaux Arts Gallery, London in the 1990s. A major exhibition of her work was held at the Royal West of England Academy in 1996.She has also received several commissions for murals, notably the Festival of Britain in 1951, the P & O Liner Canberra in 1961, Charing Cross Hospital in 1980 (along with her husband, the artist Julian Trevelyan), Colindale Hospital in 1985, and for schools in Bristol, Hertfordshire and London. Her work can be found in numerous public and private collections such as the Chantrey Bequest for the Tate Gallery, Contemporary Art Society, and the City art galleries of Carlisle, Hull, Bristol, Edinburgh and Sheffield.
In 2008 Portland Gallery held a major retrospective for Mary Fedden with 125 paintings spanning six decades.
Later career
In 1995 the writer and critic Mel Gooding wrote a monograph on her work tracing her long career up to her marriage to Julian TrevelyanJulian Trevelyan
Julian Otto Trevelyan, RA was a British artist and poet.Trevelyan was the only child of Robert Calverley Trevelyan and his wife Elizabeth van der Hoeven...
and their life together on the Thames at Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 2007 a second book on Mary Fedden written by Christopher Andreae was published, tracing her whole career and up to 2006.
From 1984, Mary Fedden held the post of President of the RWA
Royal West of England Academy
The Royal West of England Academy is an art gallery where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road, in Bristol, England.- History :The Academy was the first art gallery in Bristol. Its foundation was financed by a bequest of £2000 in the will of Ellen Sharples in 1849, and a group of artists in...
, up until 1988, the same year her husband Julian Trevelyan died. She is an academician of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
. She has also received an O.B.E. and an honorary degree from the University of Durham (2009) for her work.
Fedden has long been a close friend with retired British television presenter, Anna Ford
Anna Ford
Anna Ford is a retired English journalist and television presenter, best known as a newsreader....
. Now in her nineties, Mary Fedden remains a prolific and popular painter. She continues to live and work in her studio on the River Thames, London.