2026 Autumn Welsh Sale (Part II): Auctioneers' Choices

For Part Two I went straight for Lot 487, David Evans oil ‘Peppers’.

Not sure if it is a criticism or just a statement of fact to be called a ‘hyperrealist painter of mundane things’, but, anyway, I just like still life paintings of commonplace objects.

Here we have great use of colour, light and texture - simplicity, expertly executed.

I’d love it hanging in my kitchen!

My choice for Day Two would be Lot 614, Peter Winstanley, Dinorwic Quarry I.

If you’ve ever stood on the edge of a quarry and gazed into the blackness of the deep cold water beneath, this painting will resonate with you as it does with me.

The dark depths of the water create a mirror reflecting perfectly the azure blue and passing clouds of the sky above. 

Elsewhere the artist has used strong colours that one wouldn’t normally associate with the grey hewn slate walls of the quarry. It all works brilliantly to create a visually impacting  and creative composition in a painting that would grace any collection of modern paintings.

Part of the allure of auctions are finding something you have never seen before or didn’t know you needed in the first place. John Cleal (1929-2007) was a skilled allrounder in various disciplines and this fabulous games table showcases that fact perfectly. Constructed in studded leather and wood, it features all manner of motifs and adornments clearly of inspiration to him at the time. A unique piece, that offers decoration, practicality and function to a collector and follower of his work.

Over recent years, needlework samplers have enjoyed a marked resurgence in popularity among collectors in the UK, with bidders frequently finding themselves in competition with American buyers, where demand for such pieces has long been well established. This particular example is especially patriotic in character, as evidenced by both its imagery and inscription.

Most striking is the depiction of Wales shown in its entirety and presented independently, rather than joined to England as is more commonly encountered. The surrounding waters are labelled "St. George's Channel" (a term historically used interchangeably with the Irish Sea) and "Bristol Channel" as expected, while the area where England would normally appear is emphatically inscribed "A Map of Wales by H.L."

The composition is further enhanced by the inclusion of the Egyptian Sphinx, the regimental badge of the South Wales Borderers (24th Regiment of Foot). While depictions of animals and flowers are not uncommon in samplers of this period, the scale and prominence of the four principal decorative motifs are unusual, lending the piece a particularly bold, decorative, and patriotic appearance.

Part II of our Autumn Welsh Sale takes place on Monday 23rd November 2026 at our Cardiff saleroom.

Browse the full Welsh Sale (Part II) catalogue.