Born in Bristol in 1915, Mary Fedden knew from an early age that she wanted to be a painter. At just 16, she enrolled at the Slade School of Art in London, where she studied from 1932 to 1936 under the Russian stage designer Vladimir Polunin. Initially interested in theatrical set design, she painted sets for Sadler’s Wells Theatre but ultimately chose to pursue a different path.
Returning to Bristol, Fedden supported herself by teaching art and painting portraits. During the Second World War, she served in the Land Army and later in the Women’s Voluntary Service. Upon returning to London, she took up work again in the theatre and painted propaganda murals for the Arts Theatre in Great Newport Street. In 1944 she was called up and assigned as a driver for the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI).
MARY FEDDEN, Still Life with Milk Jug, signed and dated 'Fedden 07'
Estimate £7,000 - £10,000
After the war, Fedden returned fully to painting. Her first exhibition was held in 1947 at Heal’s department store, where she presented a selection of flower paintings and still lifes. These early works already showcased the distinctive visual language she would become known for – bold colour palettes, expressive forms and often a juxtaposition of still life elements against landscape backdrops. Her style drew inspiration from Matisse and Braque, yet remained unmistakably her own.
MARY FEDDEN, R.A. (1915–2012) The Orange Table signed and dated Fedden 1996
Sold for £22,500 (inc buyer's premium) in 2019
Fedden’s success led to commissions for magazine covers, including Woman magazine, as well as mural projects. Notable among these were her contributions to the Festival of Britain in 1951 and the P&O liner Canberra in 1961. Alongside her husband, the artist Julian Trevelyan, she also created work for Charing Cross Hospital.
In 1956, she became a member of The London Group, a collective established to provide exhibiting opportunities outside the traditional Royal Academy system. She also served as Chair of the Women’s International Art Club, championing visibility for female artists during a time when their work often received less recognition.
MARY FEDDEN, The Fish Pot, signed and dated 'Fedden '82'
Estimate £10,000 - £15,000
A pioneer for women in art, Mary Fedden went on to become the first female tutor in the painting department at the Royal College of Art, where her students included David Hockney and Allen Jones. After six years at the RCA, she continued teaching at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Cobham, Surrey between 1965 and 1970.
Throughout her life, Fedden remained a prolific and popular artist. She lived and worked in her riverside Chiswick studio, which she shared with Julian Trevelyan, until her death in 2012 at the age of 96. Her vivid, poetic approach to painting continues to resonate with collectors today, and her legacy as a bold, independent voice in 20th century British art endures.
Get in touch with our Modern British & Irish art department at Chiswick Auctions, email pictures@chiswickauctions.co.uk or submit an online valuation.