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Philip Trevelyan's Top Picks | An Appreciation for Modern Art
Coming up this March, we are pleased to present a number of sales offering an exceptional range of modern art, including the collection of Dame Stephanie Shirley CH on 10 March, followed by our Modern and Contemporary Art auction on 11 March. The latter features A World Observed: The Art of Julian Trevelyan, opening with over 50 works by the artist, consigned from the collection of his son, British farmer, entrepreneur and former film director, Philip Trevelyan.
Philip was born in London to Julian Trevelyan and his first wife, Ursula Darwin, a studio ceramicist. He spent his first five years living at Durham Wharf, where his parents had their home and studios. Growing up surrounded by his parents’ artistic influence, Philip went on to study Fine Art at Newcastle University and Film & Television at the Royal College of Art. He subsequently created a small collection of documentary films, for which he won a number of awards.
Ahead of the auctions, we invited Philip to browse our upcoming auctions, revisiting the works and selecting some of his favourites.
Philip Trevelyan's Top Picks
From the Collection of Julian Trevelyan | 11 March 2026
No. 1
Lot 253: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Dutch Windmills, Oil on canvas | Est. £5,000-8,000 (+ fees)
"I believe that Julian thought of this as his final painting and I think it tells a story. Julian’s mother was a Dutch violinist, and a good deal of my father’s life was spent playing his oboe, with her encouragement on the piano. Music meant almost as much to him as the visual arts. We can see that the nearest windmill has turned its back to the artist and the whole scene is motionless, conclusive, and lit by an evening sky."
No. 2
Lot 229: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Untitled (Portuguese Corn Harvest), Oil on board | Est. £8,000-12,000 (+ fees)
"What I enjoy is the undisguised romance and suggestions of mischief displayed in this moonlit scene of harvest celebrations. It also stands as a documentary record of a close community being involved in agricultural production. At a time when farming has been de-populated by economics and machines, the latter thought is important."
No. 3
Lot 243: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Sahara, Oil on canvas | Est. £4,000-6,000 (+ fees)
"Friends tell me that deserts are hot, sandy and huge. In this portrayal of the Sahara, there are curious clouds hovering over the drifts and it reminds me of the strange open spaces that exist on our earth. There are also little spots where water appears and spindly trees can grow."
No. 4
Lot 233: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Cretan Witch, Oil on canvas | Est. £2,500-3,500 (+ fees)
"Painted after visiting John Craxton in Crete, this vigorous picture questions traditional societal beliefs. For example, the Cretan country people’s habit of keeping teen aged daughters safely locked up and away from local men. Painted soon after Julian’s serious bout of Menigitis, it questions the primitive beliefs of witch-like characters who were still common in outlying parts of Europe. This richly filled canvas is an excellent example of his documentary approach to subject matter."
No. 5
Lot 247: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Manhattan Offices at Night, Oil on canvas | Est. £5,000-8,000 (+ fees)
"Julian greatly enjoyed his late Autumn visits to the USA, and his portrayals of Washington, Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty with tugs, or the Autumn parks, were full of joy. 'Manhattan Offices at Night' reminds me of his print with some offices still lit, which was titled 'Adultery with Secretaries'. There was humour in his work."
No. 6
Lot 204: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Mount Athos, Watercolour over pencil | Est. £500-700 (+ fees)
Lot 234: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Mount Athos, Oil on canvas | Est. £3,000-5,000 (+ fees)
Lot 244: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Mount Athos, Oil on canvas | Est. £3,000-5,000 (+ fees)
"In the 1930’s, Julian and Malcolm Lowry (the writer to be), climbed up the mountains to visit the monks on Mount Athos. They were welcomed and given food and rough straw mattresses to sleep upon. Julian never forgot this adventure, and I think the humanity of the monks left an impression which over-ruled his general suspicion of most religious practice."
No. 7
Lot 248: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Floating Dock Bristol, Oil on canvas | Est. £3,000-5,000 (+ fees)
Lot 250: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Bristol City Dock, Oil on canvas | Est. £4,000-6,000 (+ fees)
"Both these pictures contain multiple examples of Julian’s particular language of mixed chimneys and houses. Compositionally they are typically inventive and yet they do record accurately the strong nature and feeling of Bristol. Mary Fedden (Julian’s second wife) was the president of the Bristol Royal Academy at the time these pictures were painted. They made visits to the city quite often. I like also Julians’ ink and watercolour picture of Bristol station. He loved trains and journeys on them."
No. 8
Lot 220: λ Julian Trevelyan (British 1910-1988), Chiswick Eyot: Evening Saling, Oil on canvas with scratching out | Est. £3,000-5,000 (+ fees)
"I love this picture of an evening sail near the island of Chiswick Eyot with its swans. It reminds me of learning to sail in Julian’s old wooden dinghy, when the tide was strong and the wind was negligible. The atmosphere of an evening light with little wind is perfectly re-kindled by the pinky-orange reflections and sky."
From the rest of the Modern and Contemporary Art auction | 11 March 2026
No. 9
Lot 266: λ Anne Redpath (British 1895-1965), Gloxinia, Watercolour | Est. £3,000-5,000 (+ fees)
"This is a brilliant portrayal of a house plant, sitting on a shelf, likely lit by the moon. I like the drama and romance conveyed, and the depiction of veins on the plant leaves"
No. 10
Lot 285: Lucien Pissarro (French 1863-1944), Soup, Black crayon | Est. £3,000-5,000 (+ fees)
"Old and middle aged Haircuts listening to cafe music and astonished suspicion of the soup. This is a brilliant drawing."
From the collection of Dame Stephanie Shirley | 10 March 2026
No. 11
Lot 18: λ Kim Lim (Singaporean/British 1936-1997), Padma III, Portland stone | Est. £15,000-25,000 (+ fees)
"This is a piece of skilfully worked Portland stone, creating gently shaped abstract forms that (for me) express a form of protection and love that can sometimes be found within the shapes of rocks."
No. 12
Lot 32: λ Ivon Hitchens (British 1893-1979), Dark and Light Poppies, oil on canvas | Est. £70,000-100,000 (+ fees)
"I have always enjoyed the spontaneous spirit engendered by Hitchen’s paintings. This is an excellent reminder of both the artist’s skill and the encouraging, short lived gaiety of poppies."
No. 13
Lot 14: λ Pablo Picasso (Spanish 1881-1973), Pichet Espagnole (Alain Ramie 244), Painted and partially glazed white earthenware pitcher | Est. £10,000-15,000 (+ fees)
"Picasso was much better than most of us at placing different sized spots on pots. This pitcher immediately makes me smile at its shape, and wonder at the decoration. Imagine drinking from it!"
No. 14
Lot 38: λ Joan Miro (Spanish 1893-1983), From Cahier d'Ombres, Lithograph printed in colours, 1971 | Est. £800-1,000 (+ fees)
"Miro places apparently haphazard markings so exactly, that they turn into creatures entirely his own. These can project mystery, fear or a sheer enjoyment of life. This one could be a curious small plant or close up detail while suggesting all three emotions."
No. 15
Lot 61: λ Paul Feiler (British 1918-2013), Zennor, 1962, Oil on canvas | Est. £15,000-25,000 (+ fees)
"This intriguing work by an artist unknown to me, appears to have created a unique, valid and suggestive space in the real world. That is difficult to do and thus, rarely found."
Auction Details
Dame Stephanie Shirley CH: A Legacy shaped by Technology, Philanthropy and Art
Tuesday 10 March, 10.30am GMT | Browse the auction »
Modern & Contemporary Art to include ‘A World Observed: The Art of Julian Trevelyan’
Wednesday 11 March, 10.30am GMT | Browse the auction »
Viewing:
Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
- Friday 27 February: 10am–4pm
- Monday 2 March: 10am–4pm
- Tuesday 3 March: 10am–7pm
Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE
- Saturday 7 March: 10am-3pm
- Sunday 8 March: 10am-3pm
- Monday 9 March: 10am-4pm
- Tuesday 10 March: 10am-4pm
Further Information:
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | pictures@dreweatts.com
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com
