2026 Spring Welsh Sale (Part I): Auctioneers' Choices

I would be overjoyed to own any one of the oils by Sir Kyffin Williams in this coming Welsh Sale, the first part to be held on April 19th, 2026.

The Kyffin oils are all so different from one another but with each the paint is characteristically spaded on creating that striking sculptural quality which we associate with Kyffin. Although they are all magnificent and should not be without mention, my auctioneer's choice this time is an oil painting by Sir Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956). One which I am sure Sir Kyffin would have admired and would have been proud to have executed. Sir Kyffin was sceptical of Brangwyn's later, more flamboyant work but I am confident that this portrait of a young rosy cheeked dockworker would have appealed massively.

The boy stands on the quayside in his slop-clothes with the numerous masts beyond and with other figures onlooking; the setting reminds us that he would have been there to serve and toil, while the sombre palette and thickly applied texture reinforces the idea of a tough existence for this boy. The rosy cheeks show that he is perhaps too young for such a life. Brangwyn would have only been around eighteen when he painted him, I wonder what the feeling would have been between the sitter and artist - there must have been but a small age gap between them but they would have led such different lives.

The painting is a newly discovered Brangwyn with generational provenance from a South Wales home. It has now been registered by Libby Horner in the Brangwyn Raisonne. It really is a gem and I am excited to see where the bidding takes us, I suspect a little bit more than our estimate.

I’m finding it harder than normal to just pick one. There is a strong entry of works by Donald McIntyre. I find myself drawn to Lot 224, the street scene in Brittany. Understated but with depth it’s a great size, and good value at £700 – 1,000.

But I’m always impressed by the works of David Grosvenor. Essex born but having lived in Wales since the early 90s, his home is in the heart of the breathtaking mountains he reproduces.

Primarily a watercolourist he started working more with oils around 2012 and here we have 4 stunning examples. My choice here is Lot 133, three peaks in Snowdonia including Moel Hebog. Fabulous view and use of colour, prices are on the up so a good time to jump in?

The colour palette in this picture is what speaks to me most. The varying shades of yellow and orange create a strong sense of warmth and comfort leaving me with a feeling of contentment and positivity. The rural lane and dwellings typify his work, ticking boxes for collectors, while the lovely size and artists’ signature should ensure a lot of competition come sale day.

It is especially satisfying to encounter an original Brangwyn oil painting in the sale, as his works are more commonly seen as lithographs or engravings. This striking piece captures a dramatic moment from the Battle of Flores during the 16th-century Anglo-Spanish War. The composition is dominated by the stern of the formidable galleon Revenge, shown valiantly holding its own against overwhelming opposition. Both heroic and tragic in tone, the painting is reproduced in the 1908 publication of the same name. Elegantly housed in an ornate gilt frame, the painting would make a commanding focal point in a formal interior.

In an auction full of fabulous Welsh paintings spanning nearly two centuries I was delighted to discover this solitary but significant modern ceramic masterpiece. Lot 220. Stoneware vase by John Ward (1938-2023).

I am such an admirer of the work of John Ward. His mastery of the craft is evident in every piece he created. Apparently simple forms, but inherently complex flat coil constructions, detailed in contrasting tones and textured to perfection.

The influence of the great Hans Coper (1920-1981) is clear to see and it wouldn’t surprise me if the pots of John Ward reach the dizzying heights that Coper’s work has attained in recent times.

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