Roy Walker & views of the Porthmeor printmakers workshop
The Victoria & Albert Museum holds two prints by Roy Walker in its permanent collection, one, called St Austell Storm, it describes as ‘simple, dramatic, elemental and a masterly example of printmaking’ which is a nice way to introduce Roy to those who might be unaware of his work or of what a hugely influential figure he was in the St Ives art scene from his arrival in 1965 up to his early death in 2001.
We are honoured to be handling a fine collection of prints from Roy Walker’s family in this sale. Born in Kent in 1936, Roy was a painter, printmaker and teacher but his artistic career really began in earnest when he arrived in St Ives in 1965. He played a major part in the St Ives art scene due to his involvement with the Penwith Society of Artists. In 1971, he was allocated studio No. 3 of the prestigious Porthmeor Studios, where he not only worked on his own art practice but helped many artist friends produce prints of their own works; these included close friends Bryan Pearce, John Wells and Alexander Mackenzie. Several of these prints are included in this collection.
Walker’s significant involvement in printmaking in St Ives took place at St Peter’s Loft, the site of Porthmeor Print Maker’s workshop. It was once part of the pilchard industry but has been used by artists since the 1950s. Peter Lanyon, William Redgrave and Sir Terry Frost ran art schools there in 1955 and in 1960 the Penwith Society of Artists was formed, creating artists’ studios and The Penwith Gallery below. In the 1970s, it became an early version of the Print Workshop led by Bryan Ingham and Roy Walker. It has remained an important part of St Ives’ modernist art heritage.
There are a large number of works by Bryan Ingram within Roy’s collection, we are huge fans here at Lay’s and it has been a privilege for us to rediscover them and showcase them in this sale.
Yorkshire raised Bryan Ingham (1936–1997) rejected the Art Establishment and lived in Cornwall from the 1960s, making ‘Jollytown’ his base for over two decades. The house, which had no electricity or running water, overlooked the sea near Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsular and became central to his creative process. He’d studied at St Martin’s and the Royal College of Art where he first discovered etching; Ingham was to become one of the most notable etchers of the second half of the 20th century, remarkable for the size and quality of his plates. As well at teaching at Porthmeor he was a respected tutor at Maidstone, Farnham and Falmouth Art Schools. We have nearly 40 lots of Ingham’s work in this sale, many of them containing multiple works, an exciting treasure trove for collectors and lovers of Bryan’s work.
Lots 120, 102 & 107. Ander Gunn
Another remarkable collection in this sale which utilises a different form of printed reproduction, are the photographs of Ander Gunn.
Gunn is known for his portraits of acclaimed St Ives artists such as Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron and Roger Hilton, but this striking collection of 36 black-and-white photographs by the notable photographer is focused around the artist’s interest in capturing rural and street life as well as the rugged Cornish landscape which he calls home. Gunn is a masterful photographer, and this group of 36 works contains some profoundly beautiful images.
Lot 467. LS Lowry, Going to the Match
We couldn’t finish this blog about Prints & Printmakers without mentioning one of the star lots in this sale which is a print of LS Lowry’s celebrated 1953 oil on canvas Going to the Match. This masterpiece captures the essence of English football culture. It is arguably his best-known and most popular painting.
Although a lifelong Manchester City supporter, Going to the Match depicts a crowd of spectators streaming towards Burnden Park, the former site of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, which was close to Lowry’s home. The painting is renowned for its focus on the atmosphere and anticipation of match day rather than the game itself. Bolton reached the FA Cup final that year but lost to Blackpool 3-4. Also in 1953 the Football Association celebrated its 90th anniversary with a competition - Football and the Fine Arts. Lowry’s Going to the Match beat 1,700 entries to win first prize in the painting category.
In 2022 the 1953 Going to the Match oil on canvas was sold at auction for £7.8 million. It was purchased by The Lowry Gallery, Salford.
The print in this sale was published by the Medici Society in 1972 and is one of Lowry's most sought after signed, limited edition prints. It carries an auction estimate of £20,000-25,000.
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