New works for the British Art Fair

Works we've been saving

It’s just over a week to go until we begin our four-day exhibition at the British Art Fair at the Saatchi Gallery, London.

This is one of two major international art fairs we exhibit at each year and is something we very much look forward to. As usual, we’ve spent some time finding new pieces for our showing, holding some back against our always-tendency to shout about everything we acquire.

All new works are listed online now and may be seen under Latest Work (clicking HERE). Some highlights are:

A wonderful small Fell

Firstly, a wonderful 1961 small oil painting by the late Sheila Fell (RA). Snowscape falls within a number of works of that era, where Sheila’s winter scenes take on an almost autumnal glow, mixing yellows with the whites, creating drama and heaviness. It was first exhibited at the Derwent Centre, Cockermouth the year it was painted, thence Beaux Arts, London the following year.  Fascinatingly its first and long-time owner was Catherine Campbell-Taylor (nee Rooke), Catherine being Sheila's first art teacher at Tomlinson Grammar School for Girls, Wigton, with the two becoming lifelong friends. 

John Lessore – 20th C art-world royalty

We’re privileged to have acquired five works directly from the studio of John Lessore. Now in his eighty-eighth year, John has had a long, successful and highly distinguished career, including as a tutor at the Royal Academy Schools. John’s mother, Helen Lessore, was arguably the most influential or art dealers / gallerists of post-war British Art, heading Beaux Arts, London, forging the early years careers of the likes of Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, Michael Andrews and the aforementioned Sheila Fell (RA). Added to that, within the family tree also lies the hugely influential British artist, Walter Sickert; quite the lineage.

Five paintings span the decades; Swings, Peckham from 1981 is a fabulous impasto oil painting, firmly rooted in the world around John’s then and still now, home.

The French connection

Waiter from 1970  couldn’t be more French if it tried. The Lessore family are very firmly Anglo-French, with an historic French family home acting as a bolthole for generations. Here we see French restaurant life at its busiest.

Leon Kossoff friendship

As well as Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff also became a close family friend; in fact, rather coincidentally we have a charcoal portrait of John Lessore by Leon in stock  at Castlegate! In this oil painting by John, titled Portrait of Leon Kossoff, we see Leon seated in John’s studio in 1982 when aged fifty six, one of several portraits of Leon that were produced by John over their decades-long friendship.

Where Contemporary meets Renaissance

Away from John Lessore, we move very much into 2026, and yet rooted firmly in an earlier age; contemporary portraiture merges in the art world venn diagram with Renaissance painting (the pose, the composition etc.). Here we have Light Behind the Eyes by the very talented Stefan Orlowski. In Stefan’s own words “A portrait of my father, who is blind. He is enjoying the accoutrements of his youth; namely an old 1970s Norwegian jumper and his old pipe. A portrait of stoic acceptance, resilience and his past.” A quite exceptional modern-day portrait and one we’ll be proud to show at the Saatchi Gallery next week.

Sir William Gillies

Finally, another portrait, but one from the early 1930s and a very important painting from the oeuvre of Sir William George Gillies. A painting the Royal Scottish Academy has asked us to maintain an ownership record of for future exhibition, it depicts Emma, one of two of his sisters. Loosely painted and stylised, it was assumed lost until recently. A fabulous addition to many a Modern British (20^th century) art collection.

Complimentary tickets and opening hours

Regarding the British Art Fair, we have some complimentary tickets for two, so should anyone wish to attend without having to pay, please do let us know.

Finally, due to the above, the physical gallery will be closed from this Friday, 18^th, and for the full week thereafter; always available by all other means of contact during that time, as well as in the flesh in London.

All for now, Steve and Christine