Hansons Cornwall is hoping to put Cornish art on the map after setting a world record for a painting by a member of the St Ives Society of Artists.
The Hansons saleroom, located on the Quay in Penzance, sold the unframed painting of geraniums by Victor Bramley (1933-2014) for £900, well beyond its pre-sale guide price of £30-£50.
Auctioneer Darren Ashley said: “We were delighted to set a record at auction for a work by the well-loved local artist Victor Bramley at our recent sale (11th July). It was all the more remarkable because there was damage to the canvas which meant his widow, who consigned the collection, had been about to throw it in the bin.”
Sheffield-born Bramley became a member of the St Ives Society of Artists in 1961, alongside iconic names such as Patrick Heron, Barbara Hepworth, Peter Lanyon and Terry Frost.
Several of Bramley’s depictions of well-known local land and seascapes appeared in the sale including a Up for Repairs, the sale’s second best-selling lot which hammered at £360 (against an estimate of £200-£300), and The Lighthouse, Penzance, which sold for £305, beating its estimate of £100-£200.
Bramley, the son of a butcher, left his industrial roots in 1959 to make a name for himself among the vibrant artistic community of St Ives at a time when the town was made up of fishermen and artists.
Darren continued: “We were proud to bring this extraordinary body of work to market here in Penzance, the town that meant so much to Victor throughout his life and we hope to continue to bring many more artistic treasures to light.”
Cornwall enjoys a long and proud artistic tradition largely thanks to its stunning landscapes and unique quality of light.
The St Ives Art Colony is perhaps the country’s best-known school, attracting some of the most significant artists of the mid 20th century. Before that was the Newlyn School founded in the 1880s with artists including Stanhope Forbes and Laura Knight.
Hansons Auctioneers, based in Etwall in Derbyshire and run by Charles Hanson, took over Barbara Kirk Auctions in Penzance earlier this year.
Anyone with an artwork to consign should contact Darren on [email protected]
Auction Details
Auction: Cornwall The Studio of Victor Bramley Auction
Auction date: 11th July 2025 | 10am
Location: Hansons Cornwall Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
