Fred Millett Mural

Fred Millett (1920–1980) was a muralist and poster artist who exhibited at the Festival of Britain and was commissioned by London Transport, National Westminster Bank, University of York and the General Post Office. He also taught Perception and Communication at the Polytechnic of Central London. This mural (1956/7) is the first known commission of the LCC’s post war Patronage of the Arts Scheme. A mural had been requested by the tenants of the new Alton Estate in Roehampton, and Millett was commissioned to paint on the upper part of the clubroom wall of the Alton Community Hall.

The mural depicts an abstract parkland landscape, with water, trees, horses, deer and dogs and people cycling, riding horses and boating and children playing. Architectural elements reference the past grandeur of the Roehampton estates, aristocratic summer residences away from the bustling city. The design has varying perspectives and is painted on a plaster skim.

The painting is in reasonable condition with some localised issues (cracks, some paint loss), the plaster is
flat and the building appears to be well maintained. At some point after its painting however a high-gloss, very yellowed varnish was added which is flaking in some places and obscures elements of the painting. In recent years cabling, signage and a fan have been placed on top of and through the painting. The project will have initial investigations including UV testing and with a microscope, followed by treatment trials to assess the best way to remove the varnish.

The project will include thinning/removing varnish if possible, cleaning and consolidation of the paint layers, relocating hardware accretions (fan, wiring) and repairing associated damage and tone losses. The costs for this project will include a full condition assessment and cleaning trials by Opus Conservation to determine the best approach to stabilising and restoring the mural.