12 Facts About Edward Seago

The son of a coal merchant, Seago was born in Norwich and attended Norwich School.

Edward Seago was a self-taught artist and enjoyed a wide range of admirers from the British royal family and the Aga Khan to the common man.

Edward Seago's works have been classified as either Impressionist or Post-Impressionist and included landscapes, seascapes, skyscapes, street scenes, his garden and portraits.

In 1937, Edward Seago gave evidence to a police enquiry into a blackmail gang in London's West End who exploited laws against homosexuality.

Edward Seago's statement reveals that he had a friendship with a young man in late 1936 who used a fake name and extracted money from Seago by deception.

Edward Seago had to resort to subterfuge to join the army at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Edward Seago was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 3 December 1939, with the Army number 110235 and was employed on developing camouflage techniques for Field Marshal Auchinleck, with whom he had a lifelong friendship.

Edward Seago continued painting whilst with the Army and gave paintings to those with whom he served.

Edward Seago relinquished his Commission on account of ill-health whilst serving as a War Substantive Captain and was granted the honorary rank of Major on 16 October 1944.

Edward Seago created a solid silver sculpture of St George slaying the Dragon, which serves as an automobile mascot for any state limousine in which the monarch travels.

Edward Seago settled in East Anglia with Peter Seymour, his lover and studio assistant, who was an artist in his own right.

Edward Seago died of a brain tumour in London on 19 January 1974.