Modern British Art

Works by the Scottish Colourists led the day as expected at Bonhams’ (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest Scottish art sale in Edinburgh but the slightly muted demand that emerged meant it was not always plain sailing.

The artist John Maclauchlan Milne (1885-1957) is sometimes referred to as ‘The Fifth Colourist’ due to the way he followed in the Post-Impressionist tradition of fellow Scottish painters Peploe, Fergusson, Cadell and Hunter.

Your starter for 10 – can you identify the artist of these still-lifes? Samuel Peploe, right?

A small picture by a giant of the 20th century Scottish art market captivated both domestic and overseas buyers at Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Modern and Contemporary art sale.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Scottish Colourist Samuel John Peploe (1871-1935), Lyon & Turnbull’s sale of Scottish Paintings & Sculpture auction on December 9 will have a special focus on the artist.

The top two UK auction houses have announced a string of high-profile consignments coming to auction in the autumn/winter season.

A “vanishingly rare” oil by Barnett Freedman (1901-58) showing a newly liberated Normandy town shortly after D-Day is among the star exhibits at the Winter Art & Antiques Fair at Olympia in London.

It has been a busy season for ornithological favourite Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) with a number of quality pictures previously sold by leading dealers reappearing at auction and attracting keen interest.

Small bronzes form part of a group of sculptures underlining the market demand at regional salerooms.

The studio pottery collection of the late US dealer Dr John Driscoll will be offered at Phillips in conjunction with specialist Maak.

Another studio sale bringing attention to an artist whose work rarely appears was held at Dreweatts (25% buyer’s premium) via a timed online auction of pictures by Bruce Tippett (1933-2017) that closed on September 16.

Among the highlights in terms of Mod Brit sales this autumn, Lyon & Turnbull will offer the personal collection of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912-2004) .

A number of works by musician-artist Herbert Whone (1925-2011) have generated notable interest over the course of 2021.

Bonhams becomes latest saleroom to hold auctions dedicated to works by women.

It is certainly not unheard of for a studio sale to transform the market for a Modern British artist.

A Paula Rego (b.1935) print was among the works bringing interest at a charity sale held by Dorchester saleroom Duke’s to support a disability centre.

Thompson’s Galleries, specialist in Modern and Contemporary British art, is opening a third exhibition space this October.