Henry Moore ‘Reclining Figure 1948’, Silkscreen on Linen (edition of 30), sold for a six figure sum by Blond Contemporary

Mod Brit holds strong
Many dealers reported that sales were better than expected, with Modern British holding strong, especially in the middle market. A large Henry Moore print, ‘Reclining Figure’ 1948, was sold by Blond Contemporary for a six figure sum.

Paul Nash, Studio 1929, sold for a six figure sum by Patrick Bourne & Co

A rare 1929 watercolour by Paul Nash of his Sussex studio was sold for a six figure sum by Patrick Bourne & Co. 2D and 3D works by Henry Moore and Lynn Chadwick were sold by Osborne Samuel along with work by Sean Henry. Good sales were made of works by celebrated Modern British artists including: Craigie Atchison, Vanessa Bell, Prunella Clough, Alan Davie, Mary Fedden, Paul Feiler, Ivon Hitchens, John Hoyland, David Jones, Leon Kossof, Justin Knowles, John Minton, Ben Nicholson, Paula Rego, Walter Sickert, Keith Vaughan and Alfred Wallis, by dealers including Abbott & Holder, Alan Wheatley Art, Austin/Desmond Fine Art, Christopher Kingzett, Contemporary Six, Emma Mason British Prints and Long & Ryle. Duncan R. Miller Fine Arts sold works by the celebrated Scottish Colourist JD Fergusson and Edinburgh School artists Sir William Gillies and Sir Herbert Gunn. Castlegate House Gallery sold the Josef Herman painting, ‘The Rower at Twilight’, with a £20,000 price tag.

Stephen Mangan, Before the Race, oil on canvas, 90 x 100cm sold by Flying Colours Gallery

Young and Old Contemporary Stars 
A-list contemporary artists who continue to sell well include David Hockney whose unusual 1986 Self-Portrait sold for £50,000 by Christopher Kingzett. Julian Page sold over 20 editions of Bridget Riley's new screenprint ‘Ritual’. Clarendon Fine Art was pleased that Saatchi Gallery’s grand spaces allowed the gallery to display all eight of Damien Hirst’s 2023 print series ‘The Secrets’ together, and all were sold. Paintings by Stephen Mangan were popular at Flying Colours Gallery. The Nine British Art sold multiple works by Leigh Davis, Jonathan Clarke and Jonathan Hooper. Seven works by Margo Selby from her Nexus series were sold by Cynthia Corbett Gallery. Eames Fine Art sold out of works by the printmaker Norman Ackroyd following his recent passing.

Edward Burra Still Life with Pot, circa 1955-1957 pencil, watercolour and gouache, sold by John Swarbrooke for ‘a six figure sum’.

Pots about Pots
John Swarbrooke Fine Art sold Edward Burra’s ‘Still Life with Pot’ which had a six figure asking price. Meanwhile sales of ceramics themselves remain on an upward trend. The fair was pleased to welcome Oxford Ceramics Gallery whose sales included a large dish by Rupert Spira. Cynthia Corbett sold her entire collection of works by Jemma Gowland and a ceramic by Saeri Seo to a major UK collector.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Glacier Study, 1949, Mixed media on paper
40.1 x 58 cm, Courtesy Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
With an award-winning film, a uk-wide exhibition programme, posthumous award and two brand new books that have just been published, the pioneering modernist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham is certainly in the limelight this year. A special exhibition of her works was held at British Art Fair 2024 curated by the artist’s own Trust, alongside pieces by six contemporary artists who have received funding from the Trust. The feature was popular with visitors to the Fair. Nine Barns-Graham works were sold plus two by the contemporary artists Rachel Duckhouse and Siobhan McLaughlin. 

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust Director, Rob Airey said: ”The British Art Fair was a wonderful opportunity to not only reach new audiences for Barns-Graham’s work but also showcase the work of the Trust she established in supporting contemporary art and artists.”

Son of the Soil by Abe Odedina, the winner of the SOLO Contemporary Artist Award 2024

SOLO CONTEMPORARY
Painting was on trend this year in SOLO CONTEMPORARY, British Art Fair’s contemporary art section curated by Zavier Ellis, and the sales were excellent overall. Guerin Projects, run by MC Llamas, sold all  works by James Vaulkhard. Virginia Damtsa and the African Art Hub sold four major works by Abe Odedina, who also won the SOLO CONTEMPORARY Artist Award 2024 - sponsored by Winsor & Newton and Contemporary Art Academy. James Freeman Gallery sold four works by the Scottish artist, Andrew McIntosh. A Modest Show’s Mark Hinchliffe curated a sell-out exhibition of works by Matthew Collings with additional pieces commissioned by collectors including Dame Zandra Rhodes.

“SOLO CONTEMPORARY was jam packed all week and had a real buzz about it. We had countless compliments about the quality of the work on show, with some citing it as the best contemporary fair in the UK. Sales were strong and we feel like we’ve established a presence that is integral to the contemporary art fair ecosystem.” Zavier Ellis

Nightlife, one of 10 digital prints by David Sheldrick sold at British Art Fair 2024

PIVOTAL: A digital art market is born
This year, British Art Fair presented ‘PIVOTAL’, a dedicated section for digital art. This is the first time a major UK art fair has had such a focus. There were a fair number of sales and the area was flooded with queries and enquiries, showing an emerging market for the VR, AI, AR, digital painting, photography and sculpture on show. Artist David Sheldrick headlined the sales with 10 out of the 15 of his digital works sold for between £2,000 and £5,000 price range. Pivotal curator Rebekah Tolley-Georgiou says: “Sales at the very first digital section at British Art Fair are encouraging. We have solid sales and overwhelming genuine interest. An authentic market for digital art is emerging.”