Mary Fedden remains one of Britain’s most beloved modern painters, celebrated for her lyrical still life paintings, bold use of colour, and visual language with elements of the surreal, merging whimsy with sophistication. Throughout a career spanning more than seven decades, Fedden carved a distinctive artistic voice, one that is instantly recognisable. Fedden’s still life paintings, which often place everyday objects within landscape scenes, departed from traditional still life conventions. This subject matter combined with her use of vivid colour and a bold, expressive style, proved innovative and ahead of its time.
252mm x 203mm. © Royal Academy of Arts, London. (RA ref. 10/1878)
Though she worked across subject matter, from landscapes to imaginative compositions, it is her still life paintings that have become synonymous with her name. These works draw inspiration from artists she admired, such as Matisse and Braque, yet they remain resolutely individual. Fedden’s compositions, featuring everyday domestic objects, flowers, fruit, and patterned textiles, are assembled with a poetic sense of balance. Her palette is bright and serene, conveying a sense of joy to viewers, which has contributed to her lasting popularity. Rather than striving for realism, she created scenes that feel familiar yet are imbued with dreamlike elements, inviting viewers into intimate moments that exist somewhere between observation and imagination.
Born in Bristol in 1915, Fedden studied at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1932 to 1936 under the theatre designer Vladimir Polunin, whose experience with the Ballets Russes left a lasting impression. Fedden went on to paint sets for productions at Sadler’s Wells, and although she did not pursue stage design professionally, its influence is evident in her art. Everyday objects are often arranged prominently in the foreground, set against landscape backdrops, that recall theatrical props on stage.
During World War II, Fedden served in the Land Army and the Woman’s Voluntary Service and was commissioned to produce murals for the war effort. Despite the adversity of this period, Fedden’s artistic career was influenced by these challenges which led her to focus on capturing the pleasures of life which are often taken for granted. Later in her career, Fedden established herself as a prolific painter and teacher at the Royal College of Art from 1958 to 1964. Remarkably, she was the first woman tutor in the Painting School and some of her pupils included David Hockey, Allen Jones and Patrick Caulfield. Fedden’s artistic influence, particularly her bold colour palette, is evident in Hockney’s use of colour.
The artwork (Still Life with Lilies) 1991, beautifully embodies the artist’s hallmark traits. A glass vase holding white lilies and bright yellow flowers sits against a vibrant sky-blue background and is accompanied by a curious bowl of rounded egg or pebble-like objects in the foreground. In the distance, a small, stylised volcano appears through the curtained window. The volcano is a peculiar and unexpected motif that gently nudges the composition into the realm of the surreal. The interplay of simplified shapes, crisp outlines, and bright, luminous colour, showcases Fedden’s mastery of still life arrangement. The artwork’s sense of tranquillity paired with its subtle eccentricities makes it a particularly compelling example of Fedden’s work during the early 1990s, a period admired for its confidence and refinement.
Mary Fedden’s appeal lies not only in her technical skill but also in the emotional warmth radiating from her canvases. Her art celebrates beauty in the everyday. The flowers on a table, bowls of fruit and cherished objects assembled in the canvas are transformed through her unique visual language into timeless compositions, that remain relevant and interesting.
We look forward to presenting this remarkable work in our upcoming auction and sharing Fedden’s artistic legacy with the Australian art market.
By Amanda Hayward (née North), Senior Art Specialist
Top Image Detail: Mary Fedden (British, 1915-2012) (Still Life with Lilies) 1991, oil on canvas, 59.5 x 49.5cm. $15,000-25,000
February 2026