Original Artwork by Roy Turner Durrant
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Roy Turner Durrant (1925–1998) was a British painter whose work moved from early figurative pieces to bold abstraction. After serving in the war, he studied at Camberwell School of Art, where he began exploring a more expressive, intuitive way of working.
By the 1950s, Durrant had shifted fully to abstraction, using shape, texture, and colour to explore mood and rhythm. He often gave his works poetic or open-ended titles, encouraging interpretation rather than explanation. His influences ranged from European abstraction to English poetry, and this mix of visual and literary thinking runs through much of his work.
He exhibited widely throughout his career and remained dedicated to painting and drawing until his death. His work carries a quiet intensity—layered, thoughtful, and always searching.
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Works
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Jug Forms£ 3,500.00
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Biography
Prolific painter, Roy Turner Durrant was born in Suffolk, England in 1925. His career was long and distinguished, culminating with work in major public galleries in the UK and internationally.
He studied at Camberwell School of Art (1948-52) and there was influenced by Keith Vaughan, Michael Rothenstein, Michael Salaman, John Buckland Wright, Edward Ardizzone and John Minton. A member of the New English Art Club, from the late 1940s he exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and in numerous commercial galleries in London. From the 1950s, his early figurative style began to change, becoming more abstract.
He said of his own work in 1951 that his abstract imagery were 'by-products of an inquisition primarily concerned not with what the eye sees but with what the intellect and emotion experience'.
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FAQs
Roy Turner Durrant (1925–1998) was a British artist known for his move from early landscape painting to abstract compositions. Born in Suffolk, he developed an interest in drawing and painting at a young age. After serving in World War II, he studied at Camberwell School of Art, where he was influenced by leading modernists. Throughout his career, Durrant’s work evolved from representational scenes to structured, colourful abstractions. His paintings and drawings often explore mood, form, and texture, and he is remembered for his contribution to post-war British abstract art.
Roy Turner Durrant’s artistic style evolved significantly over time. Early in his career, he painted landscapes influenced by the East Anglian countryside. Later, he embraced abstraction, creating structured compositions filled with layered colours, bold shapes, and expressive lines. His abstract works often suggest landscapes, architecture, or organic forms without directly representing them. Durrant’s paintings balance a strong sense of design with emotional depth, often exploring ideas of mystery, space, and movement. His use of texture, line, and muted colours gives his work a thoughtful, contemplative quality that remains striking.
Roy Turner Durrant studied at the Camberwell School of Art in London after World War II, from 1948 to 1952. At Camberwell, he was taught by leading artists such as Edward Ardizzone and Keith Vaughan. The training he received helped shape both his technical abilities and his understanding of modern art movements. It was during his time at Camberwell that Durrant began shifting from representational painting towards abstraction. His education provided a strong foundation for a lifelong exploration of form, colour, and emotional expression through his art.
Roy Turner Durrant’s early works were inspired by the landscapes of Suffolk and East Anglia, capturing the natural beauty of the countryside. As he moved towards abstraction, his inspirations became broader, often rooted in emotions, memories, and imagined forms rather than specific places. Many of his later paintings suggest architectural structures, natural forces, or landscapes seen through a personal, abstracted lens. Rather than depicting recognisable scenes, Durrant’s work invites viewers to find their own meanings in the rhythms, textures, and shapes that dominate his compositions.
Roy Turner Durrant’s work has gained increasing recognition in recent years, particularly among collectors of post-war British art. His shift from landscape to abstraction reflected wider changes in British art during the mid-20th century. Durrant’s paintings are valued for their emotional resonance, structured design, and subtle handling of colour and form. Exhibitions and renewed interest in his work have helped to secure his reputation as an important, though sometimes overlooked, figure in British abstract painting. Today, his paintings are appreciated for their quiet intensity and timeless quality.
Roy Turner Durrant exhibited widely during his lifetime, with shows in respected galleries across the UK. His paintings appeared in exhibitions at venues such as the Royal Academy, the London Group, and several commercial galleries focused on contemporary British art. Durrant’s work was shown both in solo exhibitions and in group shows alongside other modernist artists. After his death in 1998, interest in his work has continued to grow, with retrospective exhibitions helping to highlight his contribution to British abstraction. His paintings are now held in private and public collections.
