Julian Trevelyan (1910 - 1988) | Artist and Printmaker

A great 20th Century English printmaker who had a distinctive and abstract style

Life events

Born in 1910, his early years were spent at Bedales School in Hampshire, moving later to Trinity College, Cambridge to read English Literature. After Cambridge, Trevelyan moved to Paris to follow his artistic passion enrolling into Stanley William Hayter’s School Atelier Dix-Sept, to study engraving. Here he worked and spent time alongside some of the greatest names of 20th Century art including Max Ernst, Joan Miro & Pablo Picasso.

In 1934 he married Ursula Darwin the potter and by 1935 Trevelyan had bought Durham Wharf (His house & studio) on the Thames in Hammersmith.

Julian Trevelyan’s first solo exhibition was in 1937 at the Lefevre Gallery. However, when World War 2 came along, Trevelyan became a part of the Royal Engineer’s from 1940 – 1943 serving in North Africa and Palestine as a camoufleur (Camouflage Officer).

In 1950 his first marriage ended and he married fellow artist Mary Fedden in 1951.

From 1955 to 1963, Julian Trevelyan worked at the Royal College of Art and later became Head of the Etching Department, teaching amongst others David Hockney and Norman Ackroyd.

Julian Trevelyan works

The works that stand the test of time for Trevelyan are his set of 12 views of the River Thames known as the Thames Suite published in 1969. The set was an edition of just 75. They are bold, colourful, and offer strong views along the Thames, capturing the everyday life on the river at that time.

In 1987 he was appointed a Royal Academician, a year before his death in 1988 in London.

The Tate Gallery hold 105 of his works.

Sources: www search including www.artbiogs.co.uk