Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Cadell fans figure out the added appeal of this Scottish Colourist
03 July 2026Paintings of elegantly attired female figures hold a special place in the oeuvre of the Scottish Colourist Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell (1883-1937).
A whisker away from destruction: Louis Wain works emerge from a skip
03 July 2026While cats might occasionally be seen prowling round a skip, it’s much rarer to spot a painting in such a location by, yes you guessed it, the feline fan’s favourite Louis Wain (1860-1939).
Striking sitter captures the attention in Brockhurst portrait
03 July 2026A typically enigmatic portrait by Gerald Leslie Brockhurst (1890-1978) attracted interest at a recent sale at Lawrences (25 buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne in Somerset.
‘A singular miracle in art’: The Hamilton Laocoön generates extraordinary demand at Sotheby’s
02 July 2026A remarkable bronze cast of one of the most revered ancient sculptures, Laocoön and His Sons, drew fierce bidding at Sotheby’s on July 1 and led the latest round of ‘Classic art’ sales in London.
Christie’s Old Master sale lead by Lawrence’s Duke of Wellington portrait at record £8m
01 July 2026A well known portrait of the Duke of Wellington set an auction record for Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) at Christie’s latest Old Master evening sale.
Rare view of wartime wreckage sets major auction record for Charles Rebel Stanton
01 July 2026Charles Rebel Stanton (1887-1954) was a flamboyant and multi-faceted artist. But, although he was something of a minor celebrity in his day, he remains largely unfamiliar to many and has never had a huge presence on the market.
Henry Lamb drawing of Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington quadruples estimate
30 June 2026A group of lots with a strong whiff of the Bloomsbury Group emerged at a recent auction held at North Yorkshire saleroom Elstob (25% buyer’s premium).
Joe Lewis collection sets record for single-owner London auction
26 June 2026On a sweltering night in the capital, a record was set for a single-owner sale in London as the Lewis collection raised an extraordinary £296.3m total at Sotheby’s.
Lowry beach scene brings a top art price in west London
26 June 2026A house record for Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) picture department was achieved in early June when a beach scene by LS Lowry (1887-1976) took an above-estimate £190,000.
Christopher Wood work adds colour to regional sale
26 June 2026A notable sum for Christopher Wood (1901-30) was recorded at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s (25% buyer’s premium).
Record for a single-owner sale in London as Lewis collection brings heated bidding at Sotheby’s
25 June 2026On a sweltering night in the capital, a record was set for a single-owner sale in London as the Lewis collection raised an extraordinary £296.3m total at Sotheby’s.
Market fresh Watts portrait emerges in south London auction
23 June 2026A newly discovered portrait by George Frederic Watts (1817-1904) is among the lots on offer at Roseberys’ sale of Old Master, British & European pictures in West Norwood on July 8.
Pick of the week: Hockney work sells two days after his death
19 June 2026Just two days after the artist’s death, a rare and early mixed-media sketch by David Hockney (b.1937-2026), made when he was just 19, brought notable competition at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium)
Ivon Hitchens market creates hive of activity
19 June 2026For those with a commercial interest in the sweeping semi-abstract paintings of Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979), June 2 must have been a pretty busy day.
Early view: our pick of auction lots on offer this summer
19 June 2026This summer, a diverse range of noteworthy lots will go under the hammer at auction houses across the UK. Here we turn a spotlight to some of these – from a first vampire novel and Titanic launch tickets to a Duke of Wellington portrait and a Ravilious watercolour
Why Winston Churchill’s paintings have been snubbed by critics but celebrated by the art trade
19 June 2026The art produced by the British wartime prime minister was sniffed at and snubbed by critics for many years while being welcomed by dealers and auctioneers. But a new exhibition at The Wallace Collection underlines how his paintings are gradually gaining a serious status
LS Lowry beach scene tops estimate at Olympia Auctions
18 June 2026A house record for Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) picture department came in early June when a beach scene by LS Lowry (1887-1976) took an above-estimate £190,000.
Edward Burra’s ‘unusual and macabre’ watercolour finds admirers in Salisbury auction
17 June 2026A number of sales around the country in early June demonstrated how the market for Modern British art seems to be in a pretty good place heading into the key summer season.
Hockney sketch quadruples estimate in auction held two days after artist’s death
16 June 2026A rare and early mixed media sketch by David Hockney (b.1937-2026), made when he was just 19, brought notable competition at Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Modern & Contemporary Art.
Ongpin to offer works on paper at Christie’s in anniversary sale
12 June 2026London dealer Stephen Ongpin has consigned a large group of works on paper to Christie’s for a dedicated auction this summer.