Paintings — Modern British & Irish Art Day Sale
Patrick Heron was a British abstract and figurative artist, critic, writer, and polemicist, who lived in Zennor, Cornwall.
Heron was recognised as one of the leading painters of his generation. Influenced by Cézanne, Matisse, Braque and Bonnard, Heron made a significant contribution to the dissemination of modernist ideas of painting through his critical writing and primarily his art.
Heron's artworks are most noted for his exploration and use of colour and light. He is known for both his early figurative work and non-figurative works, which over the years looked to explore further the idea of making all areas of the painting of equal importance. His work was exhibited widely throughout his career and while he wrote regularly early in his career, notably for New Statesman and Arts New York, this continued periodically in later years.
Bridget Louise Riley, an eminent English painter, has captivated the art world with her pioneering contributions to the Op Art movement. Born in London in 1931, Riley's early works were characterized by a figurative, semi-impressionist style. However, her artistic trajectory took a significant turn in the late 1950s and early 1960s when she began experimenting with optical illusions, leading to the development of her signature Op Art style. These works, utilizing geometric patterns in black and white, explored the dynamics of perception, creating disorienting effects and sensations of movement or color in the viewer.
Riley's exploration into color, which commenced in 1967, marked a new phase in her career. Her visit to Egypt in the early 1980s further enriched her palette, leading to the creation of works that reflected the vibrant hues of the Egyptian landscape. This period also saw the introduction of her 'Egyptian palette', which captured both the spirit of ancient and modern Egypt. Notable among her colorful works is "Cataract 3", where Riley utilized the contrast between warm and cold colors to produce a shifting, dynamic effect on the canvas, a testament to her continuous exploration of the interaction between form, color, and human perception.
Riley's work extends beyond canvas, with significant contributions to public art through murals. Her installations at prestigious institutions like the Tate, the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and the National Gallery, as well as a large-scale mural for the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, demonstrate her versatility and commitment to engaging with a broader public audience.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Riley's work represents a fascinating intersection of art, science, and perception, offering a unique visual experience that challenges and delights. Her dedication to expanding the boundaries of visual art ensures her place as a central figure in contemporary art discourse.
Sign up for updates related to Bridget Louise Riley to stay informed about new product sales and auction events showcasing her groundbreaking work. Join us in celebrating the legacy and ongoing journey of one of the foremost exponents of optical art.
Graham Vivian Sutherland was a prolific English artist. Notable for his paintings of abstract landscapes and for his portraits of public figures, Sutherland also worked in other media, including printmaking, tapestry and glass design.
Graham Vivian Sutherland was a prolific English artist. Notable for his paintings of abstract landscapes and for his portraits of public figures, Sutherland also worked in other media, including printmaking, tapestry and glass design.
William Patrick Roberts was a British artist.
In the years before the First World War Roberts was a pioneer, among English artists, in his use of abstract images. In later years he described his approach as that of an «English Cubist».
Prunella Clough was a prominent British artist. She is known mostly for her paintings, though she also made prints and created assemblages of collected objects. She was awarded the Jerwood Prize for painting, and received a retrospective exhibition at Tate Britain.
Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist. His drawings and paintings mainly depict Pendlebury, Lancashire (where he lived and worked for more than 40 years) as well as Salford and its vicinity.
Lowry is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century. He developed a distinctive style of painting and is best known for his urban landscapes peopled with human figures, often referred to as "matchstick men". He painted mysterious unpopulated landscapes, brooding portraits and the unpublished "marionette" works, which were only found after his death.
Walter Richard Sickert was a German-born British painter and printmaker who was a member of the Camden Town Group of Post-Impressionist artists in early 20th-century London. He was an important influence on distinctively British styles of avant-garde art in the mid- and late 20th century.
Terence Ernest Manitou Frost was a British abstract artist, who worked in Newlyn, Cornwall. Frost was renowned for his use of the Cornish light, colour and shape to start a new art movement in England. He became a leading exponent of abstract art and a recognised figure of the British art establishment.
Ben Nicholson, an English artist, is celebrated for his significant contributions to abstract art. Born into an artistic family, Nicholson's work evolved from figurative art to embrace and lead in the development of abstract art in Britain. His early career was marked by experimentation with Cubism and interaction with influential artists like Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Piet Mondrian, and Pablo Picasso, which profoundly shaped his artistic direction.
Nicholson's art is notable for its sensitive balance of tone and texture, employing dynamic and rhythmic lines that abstractly reference architectural forms and societal structures. His technique involved meticulous carving, painting, and the innovative use of color, especially in his later works where he explored the interplay of light and form to create poetic, abstract landscapes. His contributions were not just confined to his own practice; through collaborative projects and influential writings, he played a pivotal role in the discourse of modernist art, advocating for abstract art's broader appreciation.
Noteworthy pieces of Nicholson's work, including "March 1963 (Archimedes)" and "June 1961 (green goblet and blue square)," among others, are housed in prestigious collections like the Tate Gallery, Tate St Ives, Kettle's Yard Art Gallery in Cambridge, The Hepworth Wakefield, Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, and the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney.
Nicholson's legacy as a pioneer of abstract art in the UK is secured through his innovative approaches and influential partnerships, which have left an indelible mark on the landscape of 20th-century art. His work continues to inspire and resonate, reflecting a deep understanding of the abstract's power to express the complexities of human experience and the natural world.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques interested in the pivotal movements of 20th-century art, Ben Nicholson's oeuvre offers a rich field of study and appreciation. To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Ben Nicholson's work, signing up for updates is a step towards deepening your understanding and appreciation of this key figure in modernist art.
George Peter Lanyon was a British painter of landscapes leaning heavily towards abstraction. Lanyon was one of the most important artists to emerge in post-war Britain. Despite his early death at the age of forty-six he achieved a body of work that is amongst the most original and important reappraisals of modernism in painting to be found anywhere. Combining abstract values with radical ideas about landscape and the figure, Lanyon navigated a course from Constructivism through Abstract Expressionism to a style close to Pop. He also made constructions, pottery and collage.
Terence Ernest Manitou Frost was a British abstract artist, who worked in Newlyn, Cornwall. Frost was renowned for his use of the Cornish light, colour and shape to start a new art movement in England. He became a leading exponent of abstract art and a recognised figure of the British art establishment.
Rosa Winifred Nicholson was a British painter. Winifred Nicholson was a colourist who developed a personal impressionistic style, concentrating on domestic still life objects and landscapes. She often combined the two subjects as seen in her painting From Bedroom Window, Bankshead showing a landscape viewed through a window, with flowers in a vase in the foreground.
