Merlyn Oliver Evans

Born 1910 – Died 1973

Born in Wales, Evans grew up in Glasgow. After attending the local School of Art (1927–31), he moved to London, studying at the Royal College of Art (1932–34). He became a member of the Surrealist group, showing his work at the International Surrealist Exhibition of 1936. In 1938 he moved to Durban, South Africa, to work as a teacher. After the war, his work became more violently politicised and allegorical. On his return to London in 1949 he had his first solo exhibition at the Leicester Galleries. From the 1950s Evans combined painting with printmaking. From 1965 he taught painting at the Royal College of Art.