ONE of the largest collections of paintings by North-East artist twins is to go under the hammer next month.

The 21 watercolours by Dorothy and Elizabeth Alderson, born at Neasham, near Darlington, in 1900, will be sold at Newcastle auctioneers Anderson and Garland.

The sisters are famous for their depictions of animals and farming scenes, often with the artists beginning at opposite ends of the canvas and fusing their work in the centre.

The pieces, being auctioned on March 18, are from the collection of a one-time friend of the sisters and will be sold only months after several small examples of their work fetched well over £1,000.

The collection includes one of the smallest paintings produced by the sisters, accompanied by the illustrated book Remembered Years.

Anderson and Garland picture specialist John Anderson said: "Work by the twins - which they usually produced jointly, but sometimes independently - has sold well at our fine art auctions for years.

"But even we were surprised when a number of postcard-size watercolours by them sold for up to £1,500 each last year.

"This collection also consists of their smaller watercolours, but this time includes three slightly larger ones."

The fine art sale including the Alderson work can be viewed on Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14, and on the morning of March 15.

The Aldersons' work is expected to fetch about £3,000.