Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Record for a single-owner sale in London as Lewis collection brings heated bidding at Sotheby’s
24 June 2026On a sweltering night in the capital, a record was set for a single-owner sale in London as the Lewis collection raised an extraordinary £296.3m total at Sotheby’s.
Market fresh Watts portrait emerges in south London auction
23 June 2026A newly discovered portrait by George Frederic Watts (1817-1904) is among the lots on offer at Roseberys’ sale of Old Master, British & European pictures in West Norwood on July 8.
Pick of the week: Hockney work sells two days after his death
19 June 2026Just two days after the artist’s death, a rare and early mixed-media sketch by David Hockney (b.1937-2026), made when he was just 19, brought notable competition at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium)
Ivon Hitchens market creates hive of activity
19 June 2026For those with a commercial interest in the sweeping semi-abstract paintings of Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979), June 2 must have been a pretty busy day.
Early view: our pick of auction lots on offer this summer
19 June 2026This summer, a diverse range of noteworthy lots will go under the hammer at auction houses across the UK. Here we turn a spotlight to some of these – from a first vampire novel and Titanic launch tickets to a Duke of Wellington portrait and a Ravilious watercolour
Why Winston Churchill’s paintings have been snubbed by critics but celebrated by the art trade
19 June 2026The art produced by the British wartime prime minister was sniffed at and snubbed by critics for many years while being welcomed by dealers and auctioneers. But a new exhibition at The Wallace Collection underlines how his paintings are gradually gaining a serious status
LS Lowry beach scene tops estimate at Olympia Auctions
18 June 2026A house record for Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) picture department came in early June when a beach scene by LS Lowry (1887-1976) took an above-estimate £190,000.
Edward Burra’s ‘unusual and macabre’ watercolour finds admirers in Salisbury auction
17 June 2026A number of sales around the country in early June demonstrated how the market for Modern British art seems to be in a pretty good place heading into the key summer season.
Hockney sketch quadruples estimate in auction held two days after artist’s death
16 June 2026A rare and early mixed media sketch by David Hockney (b.1937-2026), made when he was just 19, brought notable competition at Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Modern & Contemporary Art.
Ongpin to offer works on paper at Christie’s in anniversary sale
12 June 2026London dealer Stephen Ongpin has consigned a large group of works on paper to Christie’s for a dedicated auction this summer.
Early Gainsborough drawing emerges drawing in Cambridge
12 June 2026A drawing by Thomas Gainsborough, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, will go under the hammer at Cheffins on June 24.
Flemish artist’s portrait of a gentleman outperforms expectations
12 June 2026A work described as an “exciting addition to the oeuvre of Gillis Claeissens (1526-1605)” was the star performer at Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Old Master, British and European art sale.
Dutch buyer banks on the Moreelse link
12 June 2026Utrecht artist is likely creator of mystery portrait
Expansion in Suffolk and new faces at auction houses and logistics firms
11 June 2026The latest Movers & Shakers includes news of Lacy Scott & Knight's expansion
Dealer Stephen Ongpin to stage single-owner works on paper sale at Christie’s
10 June 2026London dealer Stephen Ongpin has consigned a large group of works on paper to Christie’s for a dedicated auction this summer.
‘Overlooked’ Hampstead artist Muriel Jackson finally gains spotlight with rediscovered archive at auction
09 June 2026Until recently, the artist Muriel Blomfield Jackson (1901-77) never had much presence on the secondary market.
Zuckerman collection expected to raise £2m at Christie’s
08 June 2026An important group of Victorian pictures owned by the late American literary agent Albert Zuckerman is being offered at Christie’s this summer.
Party time as ‘finest Gerard Dillon work on the market for past 35 years’ boosts Irish art
05 June 2026The latest round of art auctions in Ireland showed a marked buoyancy with totals and selling rates up on recent years.
Christopher Wood’s childlike vision brings benefit to Gloucestershire auction
05 June 2026A notable sum for Christopher Wood (1901-30) was recorded at the latest sale held by Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s (25% buyer’s premium).
‘To B or not to B’ answered
05 June 2026A group of works with provenance to one of India’s oldest commercial art galleries, emerged at a Plakas (29% buyer’s premium) auction on May 21.