By Adrian Kinton
Works by contemporary or 20th Century artists can be snapped up by discerning collectors at prices far below those regularly seen in the now ubiquitous High Street galleries.
A recent example of this was seen in Hansons’ January Antiques and Collectors’ Auction in Etwall. Charles Wyatt Warren (1908-1993) was born in Caernarfon in Gwynedd, Wales, and spent 36 years as a civil servant. It was only in his spare time that he painted but he quickly became prolific.
Wyatt Warren’s free and highly individualised impasto style is somewhat reminiscent of the Impressionists with paint applied sharply and crisply often with a vivid cornucopia of colours. Predominantly, his subject matter was the Snowdonia mountain range or the surrounding coasts.
The two paintings entrusted to us by the vendor were of Llyn Cwm Bychan whilst the other came courtesy of a rare venture ‘north of the border’ to Glen Shiel in the Highlands.
Estimated conservatively at £200 -£300 and £300 – £500, both were sold to the same buyer for a healthy £320 and £340 respectively.
Wyatt Warren’s paintings have become increasingly sought after in recent years with the most expensive exceeding £5,000 so buyers can be certain of their potential investment value.
By some strange quirk of fate, another of his paintings was taken in by our senior valuer, Karl Martin, just as our January sales were in full swing. This painting of another Welsh scene, entitled ‘Hill Farm near Snowdon’, we do rate particularly highly.
The artist has captured the wild grandeur of the scene with enormous aplomb, particularly in his use of the full range of the palette and the power and drama of his brush strokes.
A charming footnote to this is the presence on the reverse of the painting of the original sale label of the painting for the princely sum of £31.50! Estimated at £600-£800, it may now well reach four figures.
The market for contemporary art has gained in strength in recent years. Indeed, a fine example of the work of Michael John Hunt, an artist who paints and exhibits in his own Kent gallery, sold at the same auction for £2,500.
The beauty of buying at auction is that it’s definitely a case of not on the High Street.
Auction entries invited
Entries are invited for monthly antiques and Fine Art sales plus quarterly 20th Century Decorative Arts auctions at Hansons’ Derbyshire saleroom.
To book a free valuation, discuss a potential consignment or to book a home visit, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
