A modern British watercolour entitled “Above Malham Cove” by Edward Bawden, CBE, R.A. (lot 838) who was born 1903 in Braintree in Essex, is to be auctioned at Tennants in North Yorkshire on 23-24 November 2006.

This important watercolour influenced by the 1920’s artist Eric Ravilious, depicts Malham Cove, an important area of limestone outcrop in the Yorkshire Dales, and is estimated to sell for £5,000-£7,000.

The vendor is the Canadian nephew of Edith Moorhouse, a revolutionary in primary school education from 1946 to 1968 in Oxfordshire. She was a keen collector of the arts, particularly from the 1920’s to the 1970’s and she bought this painting from the Royal Academy in 1974. 

Included with this painting are two letters.  One from the artist to Miss Moorhouse, who purchased the painting from the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1974 which reads, “The painting of Malham Cove was done in exceptionally cold weather – I hope it looks chilly.” The other is from the Fine Art Society Ltd of New Bond Street in London and is dated 12th August 1974.  It advises her to insure the painting for £300. 

The vendor felt the painting should be sold in the North of England as it is a Yorkshire subject, hence its sale at Tennants. Further items from Miss Moorhouse’s estate including Arts and Crafts Pottery are to be sold in Tennants Decorative Arts Sale on 27th January 2007.

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Lot 838