Sven Berlin

Notable Works

• Alfred Wallis, Primitive (1949) - the first to be written on the naive artist
• I am Lazarus (1961)
• The Dark Monarch (1962) - published, withdrawn, re-published 2009
• The Coat of Many Colours (1994)

About

Sven Berlin was born and grew up in Sydenham, south-east London. Instead of following his ambitions as an artist and writer, by his mid-twenties he was pursuing a successful career as an ‘adagio’ dancer, touring the country’s music halls with his first wife Helga.  In 1938 they moved to Cornwall and joined the burgeoning artistic community around St. Ives. After returning traumatised from WWII (as described in I am Lazarus) and with his marriage ended, Berlin rented a small building at Porthgwidden Beach which became his studio, The Tower.  Berlin’s tempestuous life in the artist colony was the inspiration for his controversial roman-à-clef The Dark Monarch, withdrawn days after publication following legal action. The book’s theme inspired an exhibition in Tate St. Ives in autumn 2009 when it was re-published.

Already well known for his art and writing, Berlin left Cornwall in1953 in a Gypsy wagon for the New Forest, with his second wife, Juanita. Here he created artwork recording the Romany community of Shave Green and his life in the New Forest. Dromengro (1972) reflected this chapter of his life. In 1970, Berlin, with third wife Julia (33 years his junior), moved to the Isle of Wight, eventually settling near Wimborne, Dorset in 1975. He remained prolific until his death, aged 88. Ten books chronicle Berlin’s life, thoughts, and relationships with creatives such as Robert Graves, Vaughan Williams, Bernard Leach, John Wells, Bryan Wynter, W. S. Graham, Augustus John and John Boorman.

Legacy

His work is published by a number of publishers, including Millersford Gallery.

His gift of Copyright to the RLF from his literary estate helps support future generations of writers and writer/illustrators.