Why Mary Fedden remains one of Britain’s most collectable artists

Mary Fedden (1915-2012) remains one of the most recognisable and collectable names in modern British art. Known for her vibrant still lifes, distinctive use of colour and charming domestic scenes, her paintings continue to perform strongly at modern British art auctions across the UK.

Described as an artist who “brought to perfection a style that married a very English sensibility to a modern European one”, Fedden developed a unique visual language influenced by artists including Henri Matisse and Georges Braque.

Today, collectors are drawn to her instantly recognisable compositions featuring flowers, cats, landscapes and interiors, all subjects that continue to resonate with both established and emerging buyers.

We are pleased to feature works by Mary Fedden in our upcoming British & European Fine Art Auction at Rogers Jones.

Fedden’s artistic foundations were established at the Slade School of Art, which she entered at just sixteen years old. There, she studied under the theatre designer Vladimir Polunin, whose background with the Ballets Russes helped to shape her lifelong appreciation for colour, balance and composition. Reflecting on his influence later in life, Fedden remarked, "He gave me a direction for colour and design...looking back, I am sure he was a wonderful inspiration to me."  

Although her career was interrupted by the Second World War, Fedden’s varied wartime experiences, from set painting in London theatres to producing murals for the Ministry of War, helped develop the visual storytelling and theatrical composition that would later define her paintings. Following the war, she resumed painting and held her first solo exhibition at the Mansard Gallery in 1947, marking the beginning of a highly successful career.   

Fedden’s reputation continued to grow throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Alongside collaborations with fellow artist Julian Trevelyan, she completed prestigious mural commissions for the Festival of Britain, Charing Cross Hospital, and the P&O liner SS Canberra. Her standing within British art was further cemented when she became the first female painting tutor at the Royal College of Art, where she taught influential artists including David Hockney.   

Today, collectors continue to value Mary Fedden’s work for its warmth, originality and timeless appeal. Her colourful still lifes, interiors and landscapes - often featuring flowers, cats and domestic objects - remain highly desirable at auction, particularly among buyers seeking iconic examples of twentieth-century British art.

Fedden's work evolved over time, influenced by Trevelyan as well as Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, and Ben Nicholson. Her compositions are often a hybrid of still life and landscape, characterised by a flattened picture plane. She had a particular fondness for cats, which frequently appear in her paintings.

Today, Mary Fedden’s paintings regularly feature in leading modern British art auctions, with collectors particularly drawn to her oil paintings featuring cats, flowers and Mediterranean-inspired interiors.  

In fact, at our recent British & European Fine Art Auction, Fedden’s piece titled ‘Near Luciano’ sparked a four-way bidding battle between three telephone bidders and one online bidder before finally selling online for £17,000. All five Fedden works exceeded their estimates, underlining the artist’s enduring popularity.

Though for much of Fedden's life her career was overshadowed by that of her husband, by her seventies she had begun to receive more attention for her work, being described in The Telegraph's obituary as "one of Britain’s best-known and most sought-after painters".

Today, Fedden’s work continues to captivate collectors, and we are pleased to offer five of her paintings in our upcoming British & European Fine Art auction.

The British & European Fine Art auction took place on Thursday 21st May at our Cardiff saleroom.

View the full catalogue online here.

Mary Fedden’s paintings are highly collectable due to their distinctive style, vibrant colour palettes and enduring popularity within the modern British art market.

Mary Fedden is best known for still lifes, landscapes and interior scenes featuring flowers, cats and domestic objects.

Original oil paintings by Mary Fedden regularly achieve strong results at modern British art auctions, particularly works from her mature period.

Collectors can browse Mary Fedden's works through specialist British art auction houses, including Rogers Jones.

Collectors can browse Mary Fedden's works through specialist British art auction houses, including Rogers Jones.