My friend George Beven, who has died aged 93, was one of Sri Lanka’s leading contemporary artists. The subjects of his paintings were almost exclusively influenced by Sri Lanka, and even though he moved to the UK in the 1950s he remained closely connected to the country of his birth.
He made a name for himself by painting with his fingers in oil, a style that defined his art. George will also be remembered for his use of colour and movement, for his vivid, captivating landscapes and for his drawings of the male form. His portraits of the expressionist dancer and choreographer Hilde Holger and Rudolf Nureyev, among others, expressed their strong personalities. His portrait of Princess Margaret can be found in Kensington Palace.
