The Summer Welsh Sale: Auctioneers' Choices

My choice for the Welsh Sale is lot 196, oil on board, 'Criccieth Castle from Black Rock Sands', by Edwin ‘Ed’ Vincent Forrest.

Born in Tranmere in 1918, the artist moved to Wales to paint following his retirement as curator of art at the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead. The painting here is in his preferred medium, oil, and is a great example of his seascapes, using beautiful light and colour under a rather dark and brooding sky.

Growing up in Devon I spent many summer months exploring the stunning Cornish coastline with friends chasing the sun, sea and surf. Sadly, I will be missing the auction as I will be exploring the Caribbean coastline at the time this beautiful painting goes under Ben Rogers Jones’s gavel. 

This came from a wonderful collection of Welsh paintings I was called to view in Gower and I have high hopes for it come sale day. For a collector of British art this ticks multiple boxes – A Scottish artist, who lived and worked for over four decades in Wales, depicting a gorgeous corner of South-West England.

With so many great works by Sir Kyffin Williams on offer this Summer it would be easy to pick one or two out. Perhaps lot 179, 'Moon over Crib Goch'...a stunning work, or the grey sobriety of Lot 175, depicting the seas embracing Ynys Môn.

However, I have chosen another seascape...Lot 291, 'The Sea Waves Breaking' by Gareth Parry.

I have always admired Gareth's work, his expression and passion for the Welsh landscape is felt in every brush stroke.

Here, the artist has tackled the action of the sea as it crashes and foams against the coastline. Its constant movement and reflection of all that surrounds it is often difficult for artists to capture, but I feel Gareth has achieved this with consummate skill and great use of colour.

Mary Jolley: This semi abstract work entitled ‘Promenade’ appeals to me particularly for the colour palette used by the artist. The subtle combination of bright pastel blocks used to create the abstract figure is particularly pleasing to my eye. Furthermore, I can see this fitting straight into most contemporary interiors.

Such a difficult Auctioneer's Choice this time with so many sensational paintings in The Welsh Sale (Part I) and, well, identifying the best...just impossible but here we go...

I am especially pleased with the choice of Kyffins and McIntyres in the sale, two of my favourite artists, but there are three things which have personal significance. 

Lot 96 is a painting by John McDougal (1851-1945), of Ynys Môn (Anglesey). It shows a hay field being harvested with three children resting and with adults and a whitewashed home beyond. The scene could well be around where I grew up in Star, near Gaerwen, and although it was painted (long) before I was born, I have two siblings, and other than a few other details, it is a timeless vignette and It could be near our old house in Star with me, my brother and sister lazing on the grass while Mum and Dad toiled behind. Romantic nostalgia!

I also love 161, an unusually large Kyffin mixed media of 'Castell y Gwynt', which is this eerie lunar landscape at the 3000 ft summit of the Glyders - which more recently I have enjoyed exploring on numerous occasions with my hiking friends, and where we were fortunate earlier this year to see a brocken spectre!

Also, Lot 169 is another cracking Kyffin mixed media in my opinion - 'Rough Sea at Llanddwyn'. For an artist to capture such depth and perspective in a seascape is incredible. And the wonderful nature reserve and beach at Llanddwyn is another place I cherish.

I am however, going to go for the McDougal just for its poignancy and nostalgia. I also really like it as a painting with its muted colours and French impressionistic feel.

What are your favourite lots from The Summer Welsh Sale (Part I)? View the full catalogue here.