The Staithes Group

tom-fouracre-reid-specialist-valuer

Department Specialist

Dominic Cox

Head of Art
Auctioneer & Specialist Valuer





Sell Staithes Group Artwork at Auction


Dugglebys’ Staithes Group department is a specialist division focused on celebrating and promoting the works of the renowned Staithes Group of artists. This collective, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is celebrated for their distinctive plein air paintings, capturing the raw beauty of the North Yorkshire coast and its surrounding landscapes.

Our team, composed of experts with in-depth knowledge and appreciation for the Staithes Group and British Impressionism, brings a wealth of experience in evaluating, authenticating, and auctioning works from this influential collective. We understand the historical significance and artistic value of the Staithes Group and have years of experience selling these pieces at auction, enabling us to provide accurate valuations that reflect the current market trends.

Consigning with Dugglebys Auctioneers & Valuers offers numerous benefits. Our established reputation and extensive network of Staithes Group collectors and enthusiasts ensure that your works receive the attention and exposure they deserve. We employ a strategic approach to marketing and sales, leveraging both traditional and digital platforms to reach a global audience. This, combined with our personalised service and expert guidance, maximises the potential return on your consigned pieces.

Whether you are a seasoned collector or looking to sell a single piece, our Staithes Group department is here to support you through every step of the consignment process. Trust in our expertise and dedication to celebrating and preserving the legacy of the Staithes Group artists.

About the Group

The Staithes Group was a collective of nearly 40 artists active around the turn of the 20th century in the fishing village of Staithes. They lived among the villagers, often lodging with fishermen, which allowed them to capture the harsh, authentic lifestyle in their paintings. Joseph Bagshawe, a keen sailor, reflected this realism in his work. The group produced diverse works, including landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, and many members traveled abroad, influencing their art.

The group was pioneered by William Gilbert Foster and Thomas Barrett, who encouraged young artists like Laura Knight to paint in Staithes. The arrival of the railway in 1883 made Staithes more accessible, and the group held its first exhibition in 1901 at the Staithes Fishermen’s Institute. They exhibited annually until 1904 but disbanded in 1907 due to venue constraints.

Some artists remained in the area, while others moved to different art colonies or cities. Paintings by the Staithes Group are now held in private collections and galleries worldwide, including the Tate and Leeds Art Gallery. The Pannett Gallery in Whitby also holds works by many members, with Thomas Barrett being a notable omission.

The Artists

(Those listed in italics were not members of The Staithes Art Club but are still considered members of the group.)


The Australian artist Arthur James Wetherall Burgess (1879-1957) is known to have exhibited in the 1906 exhibition, although he is generally not considered to have been a member of the Group. Similarly, The Hon. Duff Tollemache (1859–1936) is listed by some sources as a member of the Group, as he lived for some time in Runswick Bay c.1883, where he probably met Ralph Hedley and Fred Jackson, however he moved to St. Ives in 1885, long before the formation of The Staithes Group.

To find out more about our forthcoming sales or to discuss potential consignments, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our specialist team, or you can request a valuation below.

Request a Valuation

What can we help you with?  

All items must be approved by a member of our valuation team before being sold at auction. Please select a valuation type below to begin the selling process...

There may be a fee for this professional service. Probate valuations start from just £99 + VAT.

There may be a fee for this professional service. Insurance valuations start from just £50 + VAT.

Valuation Type

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Recent Sale Highlights

Júlio Pomar (Portuguese 1926-2018): 'Don Quixote', oil on canvas signed and dated '61, tit...

SOLD: £23,000

John Maclauchlan Milne RSA (Scottish 1885-1957): 'Cowan's Corner - Corrie' Isle of Arran, ...

SOLD: £19,000

Lionel Townsend Crawshaw (Staithes Group 1864-1949): 'Pulling up the Cobles Runswick Yorks...

SOLD: £17,500

Edward Seago (British 1910-1974): 'Honfleur' Normandy - France, oil on board signed, title...

SOLD: £12,000

Ernest Higgins Rigg (Staithes Group 1868-1947): 'The Golden Valley', oil on canvas signed,...

SOLD: £9,600

Laurence Stephen Lowry RBA RA (Northern British 1887-1976): 'Berwick-on-Tweed', limited ed...

SOLD: £8,200

Brian Shields 'Braaq' (Northern British 1951-1997): The Artist's Family - Mother, Father, ...

SOLD: £7,800

Attrib. Laurence Stephen Lowry RBA RA (Northern British 1887-1976): 'Salford', pencil sket...

SOLD: £7,400

Alfred de Bréanski Snr. RBA (British 1852-1928): 'A Highland Stream', oil on canvas signed...

SOLD: £7,000

Alfred de Breanski Snr. RBA (British 1852-1928): 'A Selkirk Valley', oil on canvas signed,...

SOLD: £7,000

George Weatherill (British 1810-1890): 'Shipping outside Whitby Harbour', watercolour fain...

SOLD: £7,000

Archibald Thorburn (Scottish 1860-1935): 'Grey Headed Yellow Wagtail', watercolour and bod...

SOLD: £6,600

Edgar Hunt (British 1876-1953): Ducks and Chickens in the Farmyard, oil on canvas signed a...

SOLD: £5,800

Sam Bough RSA RSW (Scottish 1822-1878): 'The Vale of Avon from Haughhead' East Dunbartonsh...

SOLD: £5,400

Mary Fedden OBE RA RWA (British 1915-2012): The Goat Herder, watercolour and ink signed an...

SOLD: £5,200

English School (Mid-19th century): Three Prize Pigs, oil on canvas unsigned inscribed 'The...

SOLD: £5,200

Attrib. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (British 1874-1965): Ponte Cavallo and The S...

SOLD: £5,000

Ferdinand Victor Léon Roybet (French 1840-1920): The Cavalier, oil on panel signed 76cm x ...

SOLD: £5,000

Ernest Higgins Rigg (Staithes Group 1868-1947): Picking Blackberries at Hinderwell, oil on...

SOLD: £4,900

Ralph Hedley (Staithes Group 1851-1913): Waiting for the Boats at Runswick Bay, oil on can...

SOLD: £4,900

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