He went on to become an influential painter, teacher and writer, best known for his wild, spontaneous brushwork and bold colours.
Though his name has been eclipsed by the likes of Auerbach and Kossoff, a series of shows in recent years, including the first solo exhibition of his work since his death at the Alison Jacques Gallery in 2018, have helped raise the artist’s profile.
This typical Abstract composition above called Artist and Curtain was consigned to Richard Winterton’s (20% buyer’s premium) auction in Lichfield, Staffordshire, on September 18. It came from a lock-up in Burntwood, Staffordshire, where it had been stored for 12 years alongside works by Mali Morris, Aubrey Williams and Gary Wragg.
The 4 x 5ft (1.21 x 1.52m) oil on canvas was signed and dated to 1987. Estimated at £200-300, it made significantly more when it was knocked down at £9000 to a gallery on the phone against interest from a private phone bidder and the internet.
“This was the third time this particular piece has appeared at auction,” said specialist pictures valuer David Fergus.
“It’s a record price by some distance – the previous highest price for an Oxlade was £2000 in 2007.”
In June, the auction house sold from the same collection a large abstract canvas called Guyana X by Aubrey Williams (1926-90) for an auction-record £3200.
