Keep Calm and Carry on Bidding

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Essex painter and designer Ernest Wallcousins (1883-1976) began his career in North America, before settling in Leigh-on-Sea. He was well known for his design and book illustrations and was particularly prominent during the WWII period, his work including a 1945 portrait from life of Winston Churchill, he is however best known as the designer of the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster. His work is almost never seen at auction and the two paintings included in Colchester auctioneers Reeman Dansie’s sale on the 1st May are typical of his more usual fantasy illustration style, said to be the inspiration for many modern day ‘Fantasy Sword-n-Sandels‘ Illustrators.

^{The example illustrated here, titled ‘Fantasy’ is estimated at £1500-2500.}

It features in a huge auction of 350 lots, celebrated the extraordinary artistic heritage of the East Anglian region. With works of art spanning over three centuries, highlights seen below.

^{A rare snowballing scene by 19th century Ipswich artist Thomas Smythe (1825-1906) estimated at £2500-3500}

The sale is a veritable who’s-who of local art and other notable artists include John Sell Cotman, John Crome, Thomas Churchyard, John Moore, Edward Bawden, John Nash, Harry Becker and Maggi Hambling, in a sale which is sure to suit all tastes and budgets.

^{A Suffolk landscape by Hadleigh artist Lucy Harwood (1893-1972) estimated at £2000-3000}

The auction runs from April 30th - May 2nd with pre-sale viewing on Saturday 27th 9am-1pm and Monday 29th 9am - 6pm.

^{A Leonard Squirrell (1893-1979) watercolour of Chelsworth, guided at £1200-1800}