Martin Syrett (1935– 2018)

Modern British Expressionist | School of London

Martin Syrett was a Modern British Expressionist painter and draughtsman whose prolific output and uncompromising style positioned him as a distinctive voice within the post-war School of London. Born in Bromley, Kent, in 1935, Martin remained largely self-taught throughout his life, although he was deeply encouraged and influenced by artists such as Frank Auerbach, George Gault, Reg Langford, and later, Sir William Coldstream. His dedication to the act of drawing and his ability to channel raw emotion into expressive compositions marked him as a painter of unusual intensity and vision.

Martin’s early works—typically monochromatic or lightly toned—demonstrated a tightly controlled hand and a powerful inner focus. Yet even within this restraint, there was a deliberate sense of energy and purpose. After 1980, his style evolved dramatically: broad brushwork, vivid color palettes, and looser, more gestural compositions became his signature, while still retaining the emotional charge that defined his earlier pieces.

Although he briefly studied sculpture at St. Martin’s School of Art and etching at Goldsmiths, Martin largely forged his path independently. A formative encounter with Sir William Coldstream proved pivotal: after reviewing his portfolio, Coldstream advised that no teacher was needed, affirming that Martin was already progressing on his own unique trajectory.

Over a career spanning decades, Martin exhibited widely across the UK and Europe. Notable exhibitions include group shows alongside Henry Moore (Leicester Gallery, 1960), and solo or joint exhibitions at the Reid Gallery (Cork Street and Guildford), Leicester Gallery, Roland Browse and Delbanco, Crane Kalman, the Marjorie Parr Gallery, and the Mercury Gallery in London, as well as international venues like Gallery Darboven in Hamburg and the Avgard Gallery in Manchester. He was awarded a prize at the Spirit of London exhibition in 1984, and his work has been acquired by public collections including the Surrey and Lancashire Education Committees and Birkenhead College, as well as numerous private collectors in the UK, the US, and Australia.

Martin's subject matter was as varied as it was empathetic—zebras, lions, mandrills, horses, owls, and human figures all received his penetrating gaze and expressive brush. His realism was not bound to literal form, but rather to an intuitive grasp of energy, feeling, and vibration, making his expressionism both visceral and cerebral.

He maintained a studio in Blackheath, London, and taught art at the Woolwich and Plumstead Adult Education Centre for over two decades. He also worked periodically in Umbria, Italy, which provided a counterpoint of light and landscape to his more urban British sensibilities.

Martin Syrett’s work continues to resonate for its spontaneity, technical rigor, and emotional honesty. As the artist once said, quoting Lucebert of the COBRA group:

“How do I know what I feel… until I see what I say.”

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Self-taught throughout his life, although he was deeply encouraged and influenced by artists such as Frank Auerbach, George Gault, Reg Langford, and later, Sir William Coldstream

He has had works in many public exhibitions and works currently in private collections in England and overseas.

Exhibited at:

Reid Gallery, London

Reid Gallery, Guildford

Leicester Gallery, London

Roland Browse & Delabanco, London

John Whibley Gallery, London

Marjorie Parr Gallery, London

Mercury Gallery, London

Crane Kalman, London

Cooling Gallery, London

Thomsons Gallery, London

Woodlands Art Galley, London

Hornimans Museum, London

Avgard Gallery, Manchester

Gallery Darboven, Hamburg

Mall Galleries, London

Piccadilly Gallery

Tillmann Collection

Sweet Waters Fine Arts

Greenwich Art 1970