Julian Trevelyan, RCA, RA, (1910-1988)

Julian Trevelyan was born in 1910 into a highly educated and talented family, his childhood environment was intellectually and culturally stimulating. Subsequently his father was a classical scholar and poet, his grandfather a liberal politician and writer and his nephew became a historian.
Julian Trevelyan revealed his talent for art at a young age and was encouraged by his teachers at School. Subsequently studying English Literature at Cambridge where he was to join a social-circle of inspiring academics. They included George Reavey and Humphrey Jennings who introduced Trevelyan to French painting and Surrealist ideas.
Excited by what he learnt of Surrealism in France, Trevelyan left his course in Cambridge for Paris where he studied at S. W. Hayter’ s studio and worked alongside Max Ernst and Joan Miro. By 1936 Trevelyan was a confirmed Surrealist. He also exhibited at the famous International Exhibition of Surrealism at the New Burlington Galleries in London.

Royal Academy

After the failure of his first marriage, Trevelyan married fellow artist Mary Fedden. Therefore they painted a series of murals for the Festival of Britain. However the couple travelled widely. Together making sketches en-route which were later worked up into paintings in their studio.
Julian Trevelyan taught art at Chelsea School of Art and later became Head of the Etching Department at the Royal College of Art.
Trevelyan became a highly influential teacher, with students including David Hockney and Norman Ackroyd. He was an important leader of modern print techniques. However today he is regarded as a silent driving force behind the etching revolution of the 1960s.
Julian Trevelyan was appointed Academician of the Royal Academy of Arts. He died in 1998.