Modern British Art

Albert Irvin (1922-2015) is known as one of the few UK artists to work in abstract expressionism and his paintings are popular among collectors and the public.

Austin Desmond Fine Art, the Modern British gallery across from London’s British Museum, is currently showing 'Keith Vaughan: On Pagham Beach, Photographs and Collages from the 1930s' (until December 8).

“I was astonished by the group, both in terms of their individual quality and how cohesive the collection was,” says Waterhouse & Dodd’s Jamie Anderson, who earlier this year went to see a private collection of works by David Bomberg (1890-1957).

During his nights spent ‘fire-spotting’ for flying bombs during the Blitz, it is said the artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare (1888-1956) would while away the hours filling sketchbooks.

Half a dozen works by the obscure British artist Valentine Dobrée (1891-1974) sold for multi-estimate sums at Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) in Colchester on September 26-27.

A portrait of air vice-marshal James Edgar ‘Johnnie’ Johnson has been donated to the RAF Club in London after being sold by dealer MacConnal-Mason.

Leading UK artists have donated works for an auction raising funds to establish a national centre for the artist Thomas Gainsborough.

Dealer Mark Weiss specialises in Tudor and Stuart portraiture and for the past few years he has spent early October exhibiting at Frieze Masters.

'Anglesey Landscape IV' is one of around 30 works included in Tom Gerrard’s (1923-76) upcoming retrospective at Oriel Tegfryn Gallery in Menai Bridge (October 20-November 12).

It’s a busy season for Richard Green. Fresh from the 20/21 British Art Fair and the Paris Biennale, the Mayfair dealership will also appear at Frieze Masters and TEFAF New York Fall.

Paintings by one of Wales’ more obscure artistic talents sparked fervent bidding at Rogers Jones’ (20% buyer’s premium) Welsh Sale in Cardiff.

Dealers celebrated early successes at the 20/21 British Art Fair and LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair last week.