The Works on Paper Fair brings together an impressive range of art on paper exhibited by 50 leading art dealers from across the UK and Europe. It will be returning for the fifth year at the Science Museum, from Thursday 6 – Sunday 9 February 2014.
“This Art Fair has a clear identity with a long and established history, a well defined brief and clear vision for the future”, says Lucy Russell, Fair Director. “We aim to present a stimulating and diverse range of Early, Modern and Contemporary watercolours, drawings, prints and photographs covering four centuries of art, from 18th to 21st century”. All works are original, are well researched and documented, vetted by experts and presented to the public with annotated labels with prices. Prices range from a modest £250 for an unframed drawing, to the majority on offer from £500- £10,000, and the rest from £10,000 to £75,000.
All works at the Fair are original, vetted by experts and presented to the public with annotated labels with prices. Prices range from a modest £250, to the majority on offer from £500-£10,000, and rising to £75,000 for exceptional pieces.
One of the major strengths of the Fair is the diversity of the pictures on offer. Visitors will have the chance to acquire work on paper across a wide range of mediums, subjects and styles. Leading specialists in Early Watercolours and Fine Master Drawings will be returning to the Fair and exhibits will include watercolours by British masters.
Artists represented at the fair includ, Arthur Severn (1842-1931),presenting ‘View of Coniston Old Man from Brantwood’ for £4,250, and a cityscape by Angelo Hayter (1819-1898) ‘Looking East from the Foot Bridge, Charing Cross’ for £1,150, to be exhibited by Charles Nugent and Newman Fine Art respectively. Established dealer Abbott and Holder will be selling works from 18th Century to the present day, including a portrait in chalk by Thomas Kerrich (1748-1828), ‘William Boycott M.A’ (1781) for £25,000. Modern work at the Fair particularly focuses on Modern British artists, but among the European work is a drawing by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) ‘Nue Accroupie’ (1902) for £75,000 will be exhibited by The Court Gallery and will be one of the exceptional pieces on offer. The drawing, thought to be of his lover Germaine Pichot, is an early example from the artist’s blue period and it is closely related to his early masterpiece ‘Blue Nude’ (1902). Minerva Fine Arts, Antwerp, specialists in European social art at the turn of the 20th Century, will feature artists such as the Dutch social realist Eugeen Van Mieghem (1875-1930). Galleries exhibiting Contemporary watercolours and drawings include, among others, Go Figurative showing work by figurative artists such as photo realist watercolour painter Nicholas Phillips and ARTSHOUSE representing contemporary British artists such as landscape painter Celia de Serra.
Prints, Posters and Photographs An outstanding range of prints will be on offer from established dealers such as Elizabeth Harvey-Lee, who specialises in prints from the late 15 th Century to the present day. Her exhibits include an original drypoint by Paul Helleu (1859-1927) ‘Les Trois Crayons de Watteau’ for £11,500. A rare engraving by the Flemish printmaker Hieronymus-Jerome Wierix (1553-1619) ‘Melencolia I’ based on ‘Melencolia I’ by German master Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) is a standout piece that will be exhibited by Price Davies Fine Art, priced at £4,200 The number of galleries exhibiting 20th Century and Contemporary works has increased this year. Mint Art Gallery, a new exhibitor, will show works by the photographer Chiara Fersini who creates surreal images often based on old master paintings. Visitors will get the chance to see exceptional works by mid-career and emerging artists such as the award-winning fine art printmaker Katherine Jones, whose etchings will be exhibited by Celia Lendis Contemporary.
A new exhibitor, ArtDog London, will also be selling high quality art by emerging artists such as Dan Hillier, an acclaimed printmaker whose engravings are characterised by fantastical images spliced together from late 19th Century artworks. Hillier’s work has previously been exhibited in a group exhibition at the Louvre and at the Saatchi Gallery and screenprints, such as ‘Lark’ for £250, will be on sale. Other notable galleries include, Hanga Ten exhibiting contemporary Japanese Prints, Kiki Werth showing a fine selection of 20th Century original cartoons and vintage posters, and Emma Mason British Prints presenting British prints from the post-war period
Fair Director Lucy Russell says, “We aim to present a stimulating and diverse range of Early, Modern and Contemporary watercolours, drawings, prints, original posters and photographs from the late
15th Century to the present day”. All works at the Fair are original, vetted by experts and presented to the public with annotated labels with prices. Prices range from a modest £250, to the majority on offer from £500-£10,000, and rising to £75,000 for exceptional pieces.
The name of the Fair is now Works on Paper Fair. The response from the exhibitors to the amended title from its long held title association with Watercolours has been overwhelmingly positive. The change of title was achieved with unanimous support from the Advisory Committee. The name now works as a generic title to tell visitors what they will find for sale at the Fair which is also explained by the clear subtitle watercolours, drawings and prints.
The Works on Paper Fair is known and recognised by many as a popular and accessible Art Fair, with an intelligent following. Visitors attend from across the UK and overseas (9751 attended in 2013), to view and buy a variety of art on paper from known and respected Art Dealers. The Fair attracts Museum Curators, learned collectors as well as interested amateur collectors or those who are just venturing out as first time art buyers. It works for all.