Happy Birthday Sven!
- Sonia
- Sep 14
- 2 min read
Today (14th September) is Sven Berlin's birthday. He was born in 1911. We thought you'd like to see this cheerful self portrait of Sven looking out at us while sketching on a sunny day. "He was taking a special interest in the movement and behaviour of butterflies and the insect life of the forest...'. and at the time was working on an illustrated manuscript 'Flight of the Dragonfly' which he described as a 'set of stories about creatures'.
The painting was acquired by our late and much missed friend, the writer Austin Wormleighton who visited and corresponded with Sven for many years. Austin relates his thoughts on a visit to Sven while he was researching his book on the artist Lamorna Birch in our biography Timeless Man (see page 313) and remembers he was impressed by Berlin's 'powerful intellect and the vast range of subjects that occupied his thinking. I think he overwhelmed me.'
We were very happy to have the painting as we already had a preparatory pencil drawing which makes it extra special. Here it is...
And hot off the press.... This time next year, we are happy to tell you, this day will be celebrated at a new show for Sven (opening on 12th September 2026 and running until 16 January 2027) at St. Barbe Museum & Gallery in Lymington, Hampshire. It will have lots of work you will not have seen before! Something to look forward to and so make sure it's in your diary. Look out for more in the months to come.