Modern British Art

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).

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

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.

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

This bronze maquette by Henry Moore (1898-1986) will feature in a two-session, 850-lot sale to be held by Nye and Company in Bloomfield NJ on September 27-28.

Two Mayfair exhibitions starting this month feature modern art, one focusing on British sculpture, the other on French painting.