Artist-craftsman, working to commission in his own form of tempera, silverpoint, pencil and charcoal. He was born in London, son of Sir Thomas Merton, and studied at Eton College, Oxford University and Ruskin School of Drawing, notable teachers including Kenneth Clark. Had a solo exhibition at Colnaghi, 1938, and showed regularly at RA Summer Exhibition from 1948. Merton served in air photo reconnaissance research in World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 1944. He was especially noted for his meticulously crafted portraits, many of which were illustrated in A Journey Through An Artist’s Life, published privately in 1994, a sumptuous volume costing £250. Among his sitters were The Countess of Dalkeith, at Drumlanrig, 1958; Sir Charles Evans, 1973; Triple Portrait of Sir David Piper, 1984, in National Portrait Gallery; Triple Portrait of HRH The Princess of Wales, for Cardiff City Hall, 1987; HM The Queen, at Windsor Castle, 1989; and Paul H Nitze, in Johns Hopkins University, 1991.