Update re Edwin's friendship with Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

Edwin was friends with Wilhelmina Barns-Graham during the 1930s. We think they met through a mutual friend, Anne Smith, who was an art student at the same time as Wilhelmina. Edwin described Anne as "my best friend for several years" leading up to the second world war and we have found photos of Edwin and Wilhelmina on holiday with the Smith family in Carradale in 1936 or 1937.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham sketching Edwin G Lucas

Wilhelmina had a studio at 5 Alva Street, Edinburgh from 1936 till she finalised her move to St Ives in the early 1940s. Initially she used it herself, then she sublet it, firstly to Denis Peploe (son of Samuel John Peploe) and then to Edwin from 1939 onwards. Edwin is mentioned in Wilhelmina's diary for June 1941 as the present tenant of her studio.

Edwin had to move away from Edinburgh for part of the war. On return to Edinburgh in 1944 he said he "resumed my studio life", again at 5 Alva Street, but we believe that Wilhelmina relinquished the studio before then.

See Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust for more information about Wilhelmina Barns-Graham.

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An interesting footnote to this story is that the well known Polish artist Aleksander Zyw also had a studio at 5 Alva Street, at the same time as Edwin during the 1940s. So there was more than one studio at that address.

Christmas card from Aleksander Zyw to Edwin G Lucas, 1944