WORLD ART DAY: CELEBRATING ARTWORK AT AUCTION

Our first standout sale is Lionel Townsend Crawshaw's 'Pulling up the Cobles Runswick Yorkshire', which featured in our Spring Art Sale in March 2023 and sold for a record £17,500. 

A member of the Staithes Group, Crawshaw was renowned for his oil paintings that vividly captured the essence of Yorkshire's coast. His works, often studies of larger pieces like the one in Whitby's Pannett Gallery, provide a window into the serene and rugged beauty of early 20th-century northern England. His ability to include intricate details, such as Lady Palmer's Cottage - a feature omitted in his other known versions - illustrates his attention to both narrative and landscape.

The piece attracted a great deal of buyer and press interest alike. The sale also marked the highest selling price of any Staithes Group artwork in five years, making it a highly noteable sale. 

Júlio Pomar's 'Don Quixote', sold for £23,000, is another exemplary piece. A Portuguese modernist, Pomar was known for his vibrant, expressive interpretations of classical themes. 

His 1961 depiction of the iconic Spanish character highlights his ability to blend abstract and figurative techniques, making the old themes resonate with contemporary audiences. Pomar remains an influential figure in modern art for his bold, colourful compositions and dynamic human forms.

This piece sold in our Spring Art Sale of 2023. The painting was one of many outstanding works but truly captivated buyers, taking pride of place as the highest selling piece in the sale. 

Another record-setting sale was Rowland Henry Hill's 'April' - The Primrose Gatherers, which sold for £10,000, the highest price ever fetched by one of his works at auction. 

Painted in 1910, this work beautifully portrays rural gathering scenes, reflecting the idyllic yet realistic English countryside. Hill's focus on natural light and delicate floral subjects showcases his contributions to early 20th-century English art, capturing moments of simple beauty and tranquillity.

The piece, sold in our Winter Art Sale was a true testament to the Hill's talent and skill, attracting huge interest both in and outside of the saleroom, and a storm of bids on the day.

The sale of Sally Arnup's bronze 'Arab Horse Aslan' at £23,000 highlights her prowess in sculpture. Arnup, a celebrated British sculptor, was known for her lifelike animal statues. 

This particular piece, a meticulously crafted representation of an Arab horse, demonstrates her skill in capturing the essence and dynamism of living creatures, making her works highly prized among collectors.

This equisite bronze sold in our Country House Sale at the end of 2022, alongside another, smaller example of Arnup's sculptures, 'Whippit Standing', which sold for £6,400.

Brian Shields, also known as 'Braaq', was a self-taught painter celebrated for his depictions of Northern England. His alias is a misspelling after the French master Georges Braque, a nickname he gained at school on account of his artistic talent.  

This set of four pastels - his mother, father, sister and a self-portrait - sold for £7,800 in last year's Autumn Art Sale, reflecting his unique style that combines warmth and nostalgia with a touch of humour. 

Despite his brief career, Braaq left a significant impact on the British art scene, particularly for his evocative scenes of everyday life, harking back to his own childhood. This lot was one of three sold from the artist in the sale, all of which sold for several thousand pounds. 

George Weatherill's 'Shipping outside Whitby Harbour', which sold in this year's Spring Art Sale for £7,000, exemplifies his mastery of watercolour seascapes. 

Known as the 'Marine Weatherill', his works often depicted the dramatic and changeable nature of the sea. His subtle watercolours are celebrated for their precision and atmospheric beauty.

George Weatherill and his four children Mary, Sarah Ellen, Elizabeth and Richard were possibly the most famous artistic family in Yorkshire's history. Their minutely detailed yet beautifully impressionist style acted as one of the primary influences to The Staithes Group, and their work continues to be increasingly popular at auction over 100 years later.

Finally, widely regarded as one of England's most accomplished landscape artists, Alfred de Breanski Senior’s 'A Selkirk Valley', sold in our most recent Summer Art Sale for £7,000. 

Known for his romantic and atmospheric landscapes, Breanski’s work is highly regarded for its detailed natural settings and the soothing, calming effect they evoke. This stunning oil painting captures the serene beauty of the Scottish Borders with astounding detail, making this piece one of the most popular in the sale.