Artist, teacher, writer and curator, born in Ham, Surrey. His brother was the art historian and spy Anthony Blunt. Began to paint in childhood. Left Oxford University after two terms and studied in Paris at the Atelier Moderne under Othon Friesz and at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Paris, where he had his first one-man show. Entered Royal Academy engraving school in 1922, where his teachers included Frank Short, and worked under Leon Underwood in his studio. Taught at Haileybury for 15 years, interrupted by a period studying singing in Germany and Italy; he sang professionally for a while. Became art master at Eton College, 1938–59, then curator of the Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey. Showed in England and at Paris Salon. Wrote about two dozen books, including a witty, entertaining autobiography Married to a Single Life, 1983, and Slow on the Feather, 1986.