The East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing, otherwise known as the Benton End Group, was established by Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines in 1937. Initially located in Dedham, Essex, the school was moved to a 16th century farmhouse, near Hadleigh in Suffolk called Benton End in 1938. It was here that the school was run for some 40 years and is said to have had a hand in fostering the talents of some of the most highly regarded painters of post war Britain, including Lucian Freud and Maggi Hambling. Benton End quickly became a sanctuary for “artists outside the system” and offered a space for students to both live and work. Morris and Lett-Haines promoted the exchange of artistic ideas and techniques, and took a free rein approach to teaching, which was poles apart from the more formal and structured training offered by most academies at the time. Quickly, Benton End became an established community, with artists, horticulturalists and writers heading to Suffolk, with famous alumni including the likes of Frances Hodgkins, David Carr, Richard Chopping and Valerie Thornton.
Lucy Harwood, 'Still Life with Paper Whites' estimate £600 - £800, available at The Art & Design Sale.
Cheffins will be selling four pictures by Lucy Harwood and five by Allan Walton, who were both part of the famous Benton End Group. The pictures have come from a private collection in London and will be sold as part of The Art & Design Sale on the 24th February. Two of the Lucy Harwood pictures, ‘Still Life with Paper Whites’ and ‘Daisies and Grapes’ come directly from the Cedric Morris estate.
Following Philip Mould’s Cedric Morris exhibition in 2018, there has been a marked increase in demand for works by the Benton End group. Lucy Harwood in particular seems to be really rising in popularity, and I remember selling paintings by her around a decade ago for just a few hundred pounds, whereas they can now make well into the thousands. Values for her pictures have risen around tenfold over the past decade and we expect this to continue. Cedric Morris is also seeing a renaissance in popularity and as contemporary tastes continue to bend towards colour, pattern and figurative painting, it is likely that collectors will look to buy up works by lesser-known members of the group for a potential investment.
Allan Walton, 'Bathers,' estimate £300 - £500, available at The Art & Design Sale
The First Site gallery in Colchester is currently running an exhibition based on the Benton End artists called ‘Life with Art’ and is well-worth a visit for anyone wanting to know more about this fascinating group of individuals.
To view the Benton End Group lots in the sale click here.