Simon Thompson, Assistant Manager, Auctioneer and Valuer, guides us through a rising interest in contemporary artworks.
“For some time now, we have noticed an expansion in the type and style of artworks people are buying and offering for sale here at 1818 Auctioneers.
“Although traditional Lakeland landscapes are still sought after and artists like Alfred Wainwright and Alfred Heaton Cooper continue to be very popular, we have found that more contemporary, vibrant and visually impactful artworks are quickly becoming the choice for Internet-savvy buyers.
“We see this is a reflection of the subjective nature of art, the changing Internet auction customer demographic and the fast-moving media age, which we are constantly exposed to, where strong Imagery has to stand out from the crowd to be noticed.
“The use of technology and modern techniques has made artworks exciting and dynamic, personal and accessible, with people choosing to collect and decorate their homes with a wide variety of artists and styles.
“I believe at 1818 Auctioneers we have the platform to market any artist or genre to its best, whether traditional or contemporary; however, we are happy to move with the times and embrace the changes currently being witnessed, along with offering the more traditional pieces. This is demonstrated by our long list of strong results, which is topped by our house record of £48,000 for a Winifred Nicholson oil on canvas Blue Hyacinths in a Winter Landscape, the appearance of an oil by Mary Feddon, and strong results for household names such as Billy Connolly and Bob Dylan.
“It’s worth noting we don’t just care about results, we have a genuine interest in the subject, and are always thrilled to see artworks that tick all our personal and professional boxes. We’re also thrilled to discover artists we’ve not encountered before; it is just as satisfying as achieving a great result for our vendors.
“This year, we are aiming to offer in excess of three thousand lots of artwork via our online timed auction platform, with sales being fortnightly and available to view in-house and online.
“If you are seeking advice about artworks in general, something you’ve inherited or a collection by a single or multiple artists, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we can chat over the phone, arrange home visits, or arrange appointments at our salerooms, which are conveniently located just off J36 of the M6.”