As our Paintings & Works on Paper sale approaches on Thursday 14th July, members of the Lyon & Turnbull team have selected their favourite pictures to share from the auction. Read on to learn more about the pieces they would love to hang on their wall...
 ARBROATH.jpeg)
Swan’s dynamic and vibrant pastel shows a view of Arbroath harbour. With a strong calligraphic quality, it is very much a part of the post-War tradition of Scottish artists such as Morrocco, Fleming, McClure and Henderson Blyth, and one can even find traces of Eardley as well. In the late 50’s Swan moved to London where he became friends with William Scott, and then to Milan when he became familiar with the contemporary Italian artists. From this moment on Swan’s work took on a more abstracted viewpoint and a final move to Germany in the late 1960’s affirmed this shift. He is well-represented in galleries across Europe and is one to watch.
- Nick Curnow, Head of Paintings
 STILL LIFE WITH POPPIES.jpeg)
This floral still life is really quite special. George Telfer Bear was born in Greenock and studied at Glasgow School of Art. After a spell in Saskatchewan, Canada he returned to Scotland in the early 1920s and settled in Kirkcudbright, where he worked alongside artists such as James Kay, Charles Oppenheimer and Edward Atkinson Hornel. Telfer Bear is celebrated as a particularly fine floral painter, and in this vibrant example the influence of the Scottish Colourists is clear.
- Chantal de Prez, Head of Sale
 WAVES, 1943.jpeg)
Handling the Crosbie Studio has been a really interesting project for us here at Lyon & Turnbull; an opportunity to examine the scope of his influences and sheer variety of imagery he created across his career. Crosbie is respected for his Modernist leanings and the diversity of his talents. He is known for painting, portraiture, book and theatre design, and was commissioned to create a mural for the Festival of Britain in 1951. A graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, he also studied in Paris under Leger and Maillol, and was a key member of what might be considered the Scottish avant-garde in the decades after his return. This work, a beautifully stylised image of waves, dates from 1943, not long after his return from Paris in 1939. The technique has a decorative, almost calligraphic quality which interestingly may allude to his roots; the artist was born and spent his early years in China.
- Charlotte Riordan, Head of Contemporary Art
 EDINBURGH FROM THE WATER OF LEITH.jpeg)
This watercolour depicts Edinburgh Castle in the background with the Water of Leith and its greenery in the foreground. I think this view nicely represents the vital nature of green spaces and water no matter the size and the importance a city may have. It is a very humbling perspective of the city.
- Kevin Chan, Accounts Assistant
 TERRIBUS OMNIA.jpg)
I’m really drawn to lot 2. I like the use of different brush-strokes to create texture and depth, and its bright colours and geometric shapes make this quite striking. I think this would make a great centre piece in a room without being too imposing.
- Juliette Behr, Client Services & Sale Coordinator
This bright and energetic seascape would brighten up any muted interior space. Kirkham’s loose and layered application of paint in this work, thinned down with linseed oil and turpentine, gives such a lively but uniform effect forming the wave-cut cliff depicted in the foreground. When attending the Glasgow School of Art from 1953 – 1958, Kirkham was able to develop and experiment with his characteristic vibrant use of colour and expressive brushwork. Painting became a highly important aspect of Kirkham’s life, and he was extremely committed to the medium of oils. In 1975, he decided to give up his day job in order to pursue painting as a life commitment, whereby he further developed his style of painting. He noted that “the tactile quality of paint” is what drew him so much to the action of painting as can be seen within this seascape.
- Amelia Hacking, Paintings Department Intern
Each lot will close in sequential order on Thursday 5th May, starting at Lot 1 from 10am. If a new highest bid is placed during the last 30 seconds before a lot closes, the end time for that lot will extend by a further 60 seconds.
CHANTAL DE PREZ | HEAD OF SALE
chantal.deprez@lyonandturnbull.com