While the group was composed of over 40 artists, a few names consistently rise to the top in terms of demand and market value. Dame Laura Knight and her husband, Harold Knight, are perhaps the most recognized figures, with Laura’s dynamic use of color and movement making her works particularly prized. Frederick William Jackson’s atmospheric landscapes and Joseph R. Bagshawe’s evocative maritime scenes also fetch strong prices, thanks to their exceptional ability to capture light and mood. Meanwhile, Mark Senior’s rich impressionistic style continues to attract discerning collectors looking for vibrant yet historically significant pieces.
Not all Staithes Group paintings command the same prices, and certain characteristics push particular works higher up the value ladder. Scenes depicting everyday fishing life, boats moored in the harbor, figures hauling nets, or storm-laden seas tend to achieve the strongest results. The best works demonstrate the group’s defining qualities: expressive brushwork, a sensitive portrayal of light and an almost documentary-style realism. Size and condition also play a crucial role, with larger works generally fetching higher prices. Pieces with an unbroken provenance, especially those with exhibition history, can dramatically increase desirability. As with any collectable art, a well-documented piece is often a more valuable one.
'Lionel Townsend Crawshaw's 'Pulling up the Cobles' (Spring Art 17th March 2023) was one of the most important Staithes Group works to come to market in the last 10 years, selling for £17,500 hammer and smashing the artist's previous auction record of £9,800. Rowland Henry Hill's 'April' (Winter Art 25th November 2022) was a similar situation, selling for £10,000 and more than doubling the previous record of £4,500'
Over the last few decades, interest in the Staithes Group has evolved. In the mid-20th century, these artists were somewhat overlooked in favor of more mainstream British Impressionists, but the tide has turned. Rising appreciation for regional art movements and a desire for works with a tangible sense of history have brought them back into the spotlight. While household names such as Laura Knight continue to dominate the market, there is an increasing appetite for lesser-known members of the group. Collectors are keen to uncover hidden gems, artists whose contributions were overshadowed in their time but whose works stand on equal footing in terms of quality. This has led to rising prices for figures such as James William Booth and Henry Silkstone Hopwood, whose market profiles have grown significantly in recent years.
'In the last few years there has been an increase in interest towards women artists, and this has led to increasing demand for the works of the Staithes Group's four female members: Laura Knight, Isa Jobling, Hannah Mayor, and Florence Hess. I anticipate this demand to continue to increase! Historically, the Staithes Group has always lived in the shadow of comparable Cornwall artists from Newlyn and St Ives, however their work is now reaching an increasingly mainstream audience, and this will likely continue to push prices up.'