Artist buys back picture after 34 years

A MORETON artist has bought back one of his own paintings, having not seen the watercolour since selling it 34 years ago.

John Davies bought Surveying the Woodshed, Little Compton for £220 on the final day of a monthly three-day auction.

He painted the picture in early 1975 and had not seen the watercolour since selling it after exhibiting it at that year's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

John made the purchase from Bellmans auctioneers in West Sussex.

He said: "A fellow picture dealer was looking at the Bellman's catalogue online on The-Saleroom.com and noticed my painting. He called me to let me know and I knew that I had to travel to Sussex to try to buy it as this was the first painting I did in my new studio.

"The title refers to my cat, who was called Olympuss and loved to investigate the farmyard next door to my studio.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of bidding on my own work and was delighted to see that there was competition in the saleroom for my picture and although it had been estimated at £100 to £150, I had to pay £220.

"I would very much like to find more of my pictures as when I opened my gallery, in Stow-on-The-Wold in 1977, I no longer had time to paint."

James Gadd, Bellmans' paintings valuer, said he believed the watercolour had been with the original purchaser since being bought. The painting was among items from their estate being sold by beneficiaries of their will.

Mr Gadd said the watercolour had been among several contemporary paintings sold at Bellmans' auction. "It was just a very pleasant 20th Century watercolour," he said.

The John Davies Gallery opened more than 30 years ago, selling fine post- impressionist, modern and contemporary art. This week is the last of the gallery's 2009 Summer Show, which closes on Saturday.

Visit www.johndaviesgallery.com for more information.