A LARGE sale of works from some of the region's greatest artists will take place next week at a Ripon saleroom.

Elstob & Elstob’s first Pictures and Sculpture sale showcases some of the region’s greatest artists as part of a large collection of fine art dating from the 15th Century to the present day.

The sale takes place on Wednesday, August 10 at the Ripon-based saleroom and includes work by the famous Leeds-born artist George Wright (1860-1942); the popular Staithes Group of artists (c.1894-1909 collectively); and County Durham miner Tom McGuinness (1926-2006); together with paintings of iconic Northern landmarks.

Read more: New owners of hotel near Whitby 'excited' to get started

The collection has been put together by the auction house’s newly appointed paintings and sculpture specialist Rohan McCulloch and marks the first event of its type in the sale calendar.

“Until now, paintings and sculptures have been included in our fine art and antiques sales but such has been the growing extent and quality of consignments that we have decided to introduce a dedicated auction that will give them their own platform,” said Rohan, who has over 15 years’ experience with some of the UK’s leading auction houses, including Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Lyon & Turnbull.

“I am particularly pleased with this first collection, which has a broad offering of paintings, drawings and sculpture from the last 600 years of British and European art. There is something to suit all tastes and pockets with attractive pieces valued under a hundred pounds to the work of prestigious artists with price estimates of several thousand,” he added.

To get more stories from Darlington direct to your email basket go here

One of the lots taking centre stage is an oil painting of hounds by George Wright, the renowned British painter best-known for his equestrian and hunting scenes. Born in Leeds in 1860, George was one of seven children, five of whom became professional artists.

Exhibiting at the Grand Central Galleries in New York, the Ackermann’s Gallery in the UK and the Royal Academy of Art, his work is in great demand. ‘Fox Hounds at Rest’ has been valued at £6,000 to £8,000 and comes from a private collection in Northumberland.

There are also a number of paintings from the Staithes Group. This small North Yorkshire fishing village became a magnet for artists in the 1880s and over the next three decades it became a focal point for over 30 artists who came together in a like-minded manner. Their paintings included rural, domestic and maritime scenes, as well as still life and portraiture.

Amongst those featured is ‘On the Look Out’ by Fred Mayor, a charming watercolour depicting an old man and child looking through a telescope that carries a guide price of £400-£600. Other Staithes Group artists featured in the sale include Owen Bowen, James William Booth and Ernest Higgins Rigg.

Tom McGuinness is a very popular Northern artist, who along with his contemporary, Norman Cornish, was a ‘graduate’ of the Spennymoor Settlement, an arts centre designed to promote a greater understanding of the arts within the County Durham mining community. Tom McGuinness also studied at Darlington School of Art and his instantly recognisable style leaves a unique artistic legacy. The signed and dated print ‘Miner and Child’ comes with a letter of authentication from the daughter of the artist and has a price estimate of £1,000 to £1,200.

The catalogue of over 200 lots also contains depictions of some of the region’s most iconic landmarks and landscapes. There are two views of the historic market town of Richmond, as well as Harewood House, Penshaw Monument and several Lake District scenes.

The Sale has a wide selection of British and European art, including work by the renowned bird illustrator and naturalist George Edward Lodge (1860-1954) and contemporary Polish-born artist Stefan Knapp (1921-1996) whose largest mural was used to decorate Heathrow Airport.

The Pictures and Sculpture sale starts at 2pm on Wednesday, August 10. Viewing will take place from 10am to 7pm on August 9 and from 10am until the start of the sale on August 10.

All of the lots are illustrated and described in the online catalogue, found at www.elstobandelstob.co.uk and bidding can be made online and by telephone.

Anyone wishing to discuss the pieces in more detail or request a condition report can get in touch by calling 01765-699200 or emailing: info@elstobandelstob.co.uk.

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here