15 Facts About Feliks Topolski

Feliks Topolski RA was a Polish expressionist painter and draughtsman working primarily in the United Kingdom.

Feliks Topolski was born on 14 August 1907 in Warsaw, Poland.

Feliks Topolski studied in the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, and trained as an artillery officer.

Feliks Topolski opened a studio near Waterloo station, which later became an exhibition and then a cafe-bar featuring his art.

Feliks Topolski married twice, first to Marian Everall and then Caryl J Stanley.

Feliks Topolski was travelling as an accredited War Artist for both Polish and British governments.

Feliks Topolski was under contract to Picture Post magazine, which published many of his drawings after his return.

Feliks Topolski's work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics.

Feliks Topolski's experiences were initially captured in pencil and ink drawings.

Feliks Topolski was provided a studio under one of the arches of Hungerford Bridge in 1951, where he worked consistently until his death in 1989.

Feliks Topolski was commissioned to produce a 60foot by 20foot mural under the arch over Belvedere Road for the Festival of Britain, unknowingly painting only two arches up from his eventual studio.

In 1959, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, commissioned Feliks Topolski to create a mural depicting the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2014 it was re-opened as a cafe-bar called Feliks Topolski, featuring his art.

Feliks Topolski died in London on 24 August 1989 at the age of 82.

Feliks Topolski had a daughter, Theresa, and a son, Daniel, a rower who captained and coached Oxford in the Boat Race.