Explore Fine Paintings


August 2026

Step into our Fine Paintings sale, showcasing some of the finest works we have the pleasure of offering. Spanning from the seventeenth century to the present day, the seasonal sale brings together an eclectic range of paintings and works on paper, from watercolours and oils to prints and sketches.

With British and European art represented throughout, the catalogue celebrates a rich variety of artistic traditions and subjects. Highlights include works by members of the Staithes Group, atmospheric marine paintings and works by celebrated Yorkshire artists, alongside a selection of paintings offering something for both established collectors and those discovering the joy of collecting art.

Spotlight on The Staithes Group

A particularly important highlight is William Gilbert Foster's The Bluebell Meadow, Lot 49. A member of the Staithes Group, Foster's painting has an exceptional provenance: it was gifted by Foster to his pupil Hilda Annetta Walker, before passing by descent to the vendor, Walker's great-nephew.  With an estimate of £2,000 - £3,000, this work presents a rare opportunity to acquire a painting with both strong artistic credentials and a fascinating personal history that has never previously been offered on the open market.

Another Staithes Group highlight is Ernest Higgins Rigg's The Artist's Daughters Petting Spring Lambs, Lot 50. A charming oil on canvas signed by the artist, and estimated at £3,000 - £5,000, the painting captures a tender rural scene and offers an appealing insight into Rigg's personal and artistic world. 

Stunning Yorkshire Landscapes

Frederick Stead's works are represented by Washerwoman at Beck Isle Cottage, Thornton-le-Dale, Lot 90. This signed oil on canvas exemplifies his characteristic focus on everyday life. Estimated at £800-£1,200 it showcases a distinctive Yorkshire landscape that continues to appeal to collectors of regional art. Another celebrated Yorkshire landscape comes from William Mellor, whose On the Wharfe, Bolton Woods, Lot 110, captures the character of the Yorkshire landscape in oil on canvas. With an estimate of £1,200 - £1,800, the signed and titled verso is an appealing example of Mellor's landscape painting and a natural fit within this season's strong Yorkshire offering.

Bringing the selection into the modern era, Len Tabner's Snowy Field at Sunset, Lot 159, offers a striking contrast to the Victorian works elsewhere in the sale. The signed mixed-media work comes with particularly appealing provenance, having been gifted by the artist to the vendor. At an estimate of £2,000 - £3,000 Tabner's expressive treatment of the Yorkshire landscape makes this a fitting contemporary counterpart to the earlier landscapes represented throughout the sale, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the region as a source of artistic inspiration.

Maritime Marvels

For those drawn to atmospheric marine painting, Richard Weatherill's Dock End, Whitby by Moonlight, Lot 11, offers a particularly evocative scene. Painted in oil on canvas, and signed by the artists, this work is estimated at £2,000 - £3,000. Weatherill was closely associated with the Yorkshire coast, and the painting captures the drama of the sea and harbour architecture, beautifully depicting Whitby's harbour under moonlight.

Paul Marny's Scarborough North Bay by Moonlight, Lot 12, provides another atmospheric coastal highlight, this time in watercolour. Signed and titled, the work features an impressive provenance, retaining its original artist's studio exhibition label on the reverse, dated 7th February 1881. The painting has remained in the same family ownership since it was purchased from The Jack Chenery Briggs Collection in 1999, with the original catalogue included with the lot. This stunningly moody watercolour, estimated to be worth between £1,200 - £1,800, is undoubtedly one of the finest of Marny’s Scarborough works to have appeared at auction in recent times. This makes it a particularly significant opportunity for collectors of British marine art and Yorkshire coastal scenes

Historic British Scenes

One of the exemplary artworks in our September sale is Robert Gemmell Hutchison's Royal Review Edinburgh, 1905, Lot 139, offering an interesting historical connection. The signed oil on canvas was purchased from Omell Galleries, London, in 1990. It is thought to be the preparatory oil sketch for the larger version, which was sold at Bonhams' Fine Paintings sale in December 2010 for £18,000, adding considerable interest to this smaller study. This striking depiction of Edinburgh is estimated at £5,000 - £8,000.

The sale also moved beyond Yorkshire, with John Holland Senior's Watergate, Chester, Lot 136. Signed by the artist and titled on a plaque, the painting is likely to date from around 1870–1872. A fascinating detail within the composition is a sandwich-board man advertising a ‘Panorama of the War between France and Prussia’, a popular form of travelling entertainment in Victorian Britain. Estimated at £1,500 - £2,500, this small piece of social history adds an intriguing narrative element to the painting.

Browse The Full Catalogue

From celebrated Yorkshire landscapes, to works with  fascinating historical detail, this September's Fine Paintings sale brings together a diverse selection spanning centuries of British and European art. Whether you are an established collector, searching for a particular artist, or simply looking for a painting with character, history and a strong sense of place, the catalogue offers plenty to explore.

The auction ends on Friday 11 September from 11AM, live online and from David Duggleby Auctioneers in Scarborough. Browse the full catalogue online, register to bid and place your bids before the sale closes.
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