Drawings & Pastels

Drawing is a type of graphic art created with lines and areas of tone applied to paper usually with pencil, charcoal and coloured pencil, but a wash may also be applied.

They frequently serve as preparatory studies for other works, but are also considered works of art in their own right. A practitioner of drawing is known as a draughtsman.

Pastels are created using a stick made of pure pigment and a binder.

A key part of the general art market, both are also specialist collecting areas in their own right.


The Tent Family by David Bomberg

Demand for ‘Tents’ reflects rising prices for Bomberg

14 August 2026

Underlining the growing demand for David Bomberg (1890-1957) over recent years, a work on paper titled ‘The Tent Family’ recently appeared at auction for the third time in 10 years, selling for a greater amount on each occasion.

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Two early owners of French pen and ink drawing possibly by Boucher can be traced

07 August 2026

An unattributed French 18th century pen and ink drawing was highly sought after at the auction held by Bassenge (25% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

Madge Gill postcard

Postcards by self-taught artist Madge Gill come to Sworders for selling show

28 July 2026

Postcards by the so-called ‘outsider’ artist Madge Gill (1882-1961) are being offered in a selling show in Cecil Court, London this month.

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EH Shepard with wind in his sails not Winnie

24 July 2026

While Winnie-the-Pooh works by the renowned illustrator generate most demand, others for Grahame books are also very desirable

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Gainsborough works reveal their face value

24 July 2026

Two notable works by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) from different ends of his career drew contrasting levels of demand at separate summer auctions.

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Event that challenges the traditional fairs model travels to Texas for first US edition

10 July 2026

Event organiser Mariette & Co is launching the first international iteration of its Trois Crayons Drawings Hub in the United States this autumn.

Paul Sarrut drawing

Auction buys and dealer purchases help army museum to stage Indian soldier show

10 July 2026

The National Army Museum’s exhibition, Drawn on the Western Front, showcases a series of recent works on paper acquisitions as well as its new medals partnership with Lord Ashcroft.

Thomas Gainsborough's landscape with donkeys

Fitzwilliam Museum buys early Thomas Gainsborough drawing at auction

10 July 2026

A drawing from the early part of Thomas Gainsborough's (1727-88) career, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, sold to the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cheffins' latest fine art sale.

Pier Francesco Mola drawing

Christie’s sale of works from London dealer Stephen Ongpin raises £2.51m

08 July 2026

A work on paper by Italian Baroque artist Pier Francesco Mola (1612-66) was among the lots bringing demand at Christie’s sale of works from London dealer Stephen Ongpin.

Henry Lamb portrait drawing

Henry Lamb drawing of Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington quadruples estimate

30 June 2026

A 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).

François Boucher drawing

Dealer Stephen Ongpin to stage single-owner works on paper sale at Christie’s

10 June 2026

London dealer Stephen Ongpin has consigned a large group of works on paper to Christie’s for a dedicated auction this summer.

Thomas Gainsborough drawing

‘A remarkable insight into Gainsborough’s extraordinary skill in the early part of his career’

04 June 2026

A drawing by Thomas Gainsborough, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, will go under the hammer at Cheffins this month.

John Constable drawing

Constable drawings rediscovered in a German auction head to Classic Art London

03 June 2026

Five rediscovered drawings by John Constable (1776-1837) will be offered at Classic Art London this summer after a London dealer spotted them in a German auction.

Anna Tonelli self portrait

Rediscovered Anna Tonelli portrait goes above estimate at Cotswolds auction

15 May 2026

A rare painting by the Italian artist Anna Tonelli (c.1763-1846) emerged at a sale at Cotswold Auction Company (24% buyer’s premium) this week.

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Museums on the hunt for drawings and works on paper in Paris

15 May 2026

Institutional purchases have become a major feature of the Salon du Dessin works on paper fair

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Moreau festive designs for birth of the Dauphin are now celebrated by the Palace of Versailles museum

15 May 2026

The artist Jean-Michel Moreau the younger (1741-1814) was employed from the 1780s onwards as a dessinateur des Menus-Plaisirs.

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Quentin Blake originals bring back fond memories at auction

08 May 2026

Arabel and her anarchic pet raven, Mortimer, were first introduced in 1974 on the children’s television show Jackanory.

Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh museum among buyers of previously unseen drawings by EH Shepard

23 April 2026

A small group of previously unseen preliminary drawings by Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator EH Shepard were offered by book dealer Peter Harrington.

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Véra Russell collection: A window into the world of art

17 April 2026

Collection of gallery owner and exhibition organiser includes letters from the likes of Bacon and Hockney

A 'parrot-sun' work on paper by Joan Miró

Miró works discovered in Nice studio head to auction

08 April 2026

Three previously unseen works on paper by Joan Miró (1893–1983) have been discovered in a studio in Nice and are set to make their auction debut in April.

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