Lowry prints coming to auction

The team at Dawsons are delighted to announce that within our February Fine Art & Antiques sale on Thursday 23rd February, we will be bringing to auction six prints by acclaimed artist, L.S Lowry. 

You can preview these wonderful prints within this article.

^{Laurence Stephen Lowry RA (1887-1976) British, 'Crime Lake', limited edition print}

^{Estimate £2,000-£3,000}

Born in 1887, Lowry is perhaps best recognised for his industrial scenes of the North West of England, including the various textile mills and factories around the Greater Manchester area. Many of his pieces were sketched outdoors, in situ, and in the early stages of his career as an artist, he would use scraps of paper such as envelopes. Later, he would confine himself to his workroom at home, preferring to paint there than in his studio.

^{Laurence Stephen Lowry RA (1887-1976) British, 'Street Scene', limited edition print}

^{Estimate £2,000-£3,000}

His formal training consisted of evening classes at the Manchester School of Art, where he was taught by the French impressionist, Pierre Adolphe Valette, and later the Royal Technical Institute, Salford. Following in the footsteps of his teacher, Valette, Lowry's early work was impressionalistic in style and tonally dim.

However, having taken onboard the advice of critics to move towards a brighter palette, he began painting all of his landscapes on a white background which has since become a distinctive feature of his work. His palette, although brighter, still remained limited, restricting himself to just five colours: ivory black, flake white, yellow ochre, Prussian blue, and vermilion red. 

^{Laurence Stephen Lowry RA (1887-1976) British, 'The Family', limited edition print}

^{Estimate £1,500-£2,000}

In the later years of his life, he would spend time in the coastal city of Sunderland, painting seascapes featuring local ports and beaches, as well as landscape scenes of nearby coal mines. In a manner similar to his early sketching habits, he would draw using charcoal and pencils on the backs of envelopes, ticket stubs, and napkins if he forgot his sketchbook. Often he would hand them out freely to children and families passing by, with such pieces now ironically worth thousands of pounds. 

^{Laurence Stephen Lowry RA (1887-1976) British, 'An Industrial Town' limited edition print}

^{Estimate £1,200-£1,800}

In 1939, Lowry was given his first solo exhibition in London, having only ever painted and exhibited in the North West previously. In 1952, on his 65th birthday, he retired from his job at the Pall Mall Property Company, having worked there since he was a teenager. The revelation that Lowry had worked a full-time job alongside his career as an artist, only came to light after his death. Some had found this to cheapen his reputation as an established artist, calling him a 'Sunday painter'.

^{Laurence Stephen Lowry RA (1887-1976) British, 'The Meeting Point', limited edition print}

^{Estimate £1,500-£2,000}

 However, his popularity has continued to soar amongst art collectors since his death, and he has been recognised across the globe as one of the most esteemed English artists of his generation. A prolific and highly influencial artist, Lowry's work has been held in private collections and public galleries around the world, and his extremely popular works of art regularly fetch high prices at auction. 

^{Laurence Stephen Lowry RA (1887-1976) British, 'St Simon's Church, Salford', limited edition print}

^{Estimate £1,000-£1,200}

Do you have any LS Lowry prints or paintings you are looking to sell?

The team of experts at Dawsons are always happy to provide a free appraisal in person at our saleroom in Berkshire, our valuation office in London, or from the comfort of your own home via a home visit or our online valuation service.   

We can also provide insurance valuations, where required.

Please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you. 

0207 431 9445   info@DawsonsAuctions.co.uk