mervyn montague levy was born in britain on 11 february 1914, in swansea, the son of louis levy and have levy (née rubenstein). one of his two siblings was a sister five years younger than he. when he was about seven years old he began attending mrs hole's preparatory school in mirador crescent, where he met the future poet, dylan thomas, with whom he would associate later as one of the kardomah gang. when he was eight, levy's mother died, and his father engaged a series of nurses to look after mervyn and his siblings. levy went to study art in london at the royal college of art, and in 1935 won a prize for drawing. during this period levy shared rooms with dylan thomas and the painter alfred janes in redcliffe street, and afterwards in rooms where they were joined by the painter william scott. a striking portrait of levy in 1935 was made by alfred janes. levy drew several portraits of dylan thomas.