Brian Sewell - Early Life

Early Life

The illegitimate son of the composer Peter Warlock, who died seven months before he was born, Sewell was brought up in Kensington, London, and was educated at the independent Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Hampstead, northwest London. Offered a place to read history at Oxford, Sewell chose instead to enter the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, where he was tutored by Anthony Blunt and became his close friend. Sewell graduated in 1957 and worked at Christie's auction house, specialising in Old Master paintings and drawings. After leaving Christie's he became an art dealer. He completed his National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps, in which he was commissioned. He has since been a regular commentator on the ITV series Bad Lad's Army, offering insight into 1950s military life.