Northern Art Shines in Modern & Contemporary Art Sale

Northern Art excelled at auction on 28^th February, with work by some of the regions most esteemed artists in high demand from bidders across the country. Leading the sale was a drawing from late in his life, “Children in a Crowd”, which sold for £25,000 and a good selection of signed prints after L.S. Lowry, led by his most sought-after print, “Going to the Match”, which sold for £35,000 (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). Over the years, many artists have been inspired by Lowry, and one of the most significant is Brian ‘Braaq’ Shields, whose “Royal Albert Hall” sold well above estimate at £15,000. Braaq is admired for the vivacity and humour of his work, and his ability to capture the spirit of the North.

Further notable lots of Northern Art in the sale were “Gate Posts” (sold for £5,000) and Industrial Cityscape (sold for £2,000) by Manchester-born artist Geoffrey Key, who’s interest lies in the form of line and movement, and whose works combine a playful juxtaposition of colour, texture and light. By the inimitable David Hockney was an etching executed as an illustration for an edition of A Simple Heart by Gustave Flaubert in 1974, “Félicité sleeping, with Parrot” sold well at £4,200. The sale also saw a further tranche of works from the Estate of Piers Browne go under the hammer. The Wensleydale artist’s light and colour-filled paintings depicted both the artist’s beloved Dales landscapes and foreign climes. Highlights of his work included “Evening Sunburst over Wensleydale, at Haytime, from Whitfield Scar", which sold for £2,200.

 Prices remained strong across the sale, with confident bidding leading to an exceptional 96% selling rate and half the lots in the sale selling above estimate. One of the lots performing particularly well was “Hilly Landscape” by John Northcote Nash, which sold for £8,000 against an estimate of £1,500-2,000, and selling well, too, were “An Anglesey Village” by Donald McIntyre (sold for £2,200), and “With All My Love” by contemporary street artist Mr Brainwash (sold for £6,000).

 The Modern and Contemporary Art Sale realised a total hammer price of £215,990 for 136 lots, and a 96% sold rate. Entries are now invited for the 13^th June Modern and Contemporary Art Sale.

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