Two wonderful museum quality paintings by Sheila Fell (RA)

Two exciting acquisitons

We are thrilled that over the last week we’ve acquired two utterly wonderful and without doubt museum quality paintings by the late Sheila Fell (RA)  from two private collections.

Pathway to a Farm - 1959

Firstly, Pathway to a Farm from 1959; this is possibly the most wonderful Fell painting we’ve ever owned, it’s a true masterpiece from the first decade of her career.

A masterly composition

It’s a fabulous composition; from the snow-capped fells atop, down through the fellside to a small farmstead or hamlet, then leading along a path, through the gate and down to the horse and hay cart in the foreground. I can’t really convey just how good this painting is and how much we love it. It’s a commanding work, for sure, at 127 x 101.5 cm, and what a painting!

Single family ownership since 1962

Exhibited in Sheila's 1960 third Beaux Arts Gallery London shown, it went on to a touring exhibition in 1961, thence exhibited at her show at the Derwent Centre, Cockermouth, where it was acquired by its sole owners (for sixty-four years) until our acquisition now. An astounding painting.

Haystacks in Winter circa 1961

The second work, also of the same commanding scale, is Haystacks in Winter, circa 1961.

The influence of Turner

What a painting; you can absolutely see Sheila’s Turner influence in this, the sky is a triumph of power, energy and warmth, all combined. A magnificent winter’s evening landscape, which draws you in and beyond, from the large haystack in the foreground, through to the assembled farm and residential buildings and away and through to the quite exceptional sky.

First exhibited in 1962

Exhibited first in 1962 at her Middlesborough Municipal Art Gallery show, thence in 2010 at Offer Waterman in Chelsea and most recently at her Tullie Carlisle thence Sunderland Museum major Fell retrospective, it is without doubt another masterpiece of twentieth century British painting.

Online and in-gallery now

What a pair of paintings to have acquired in one week. Both now online (through clicking on the above images or bold text) where videos as well as multiple images of each may be viewed; also available to view in-gallery. 

All for now, Steve and Christine