Designer Desire: Alfred Daniels

Montage of Alfred Daniels artworks

Viewing sale lots for our Auction Alert series, I always happen across artists & designers that I’ve never come across previously.

Born in Trellis Street in Bow, and affectionately referred to as Danny, Alfred Daniels (1924-2015) is sometimes referred to as the Lowry of the East End – although he once quipped, “I’m not really an East Ender, I’m more of a Bow boy”.

With help from his uncle Charlie, he left school early and enrolled in Woolwich Polytechnic to learn sign-writing. He never completed his course, instead – again, thanks to his uncle – got a job as a lettering artist at the Lawrence Danes Studio in Chancery Lane.

When his uncle started up his own studio in Fetter Lane above the Vogue Magazine photo studio, he went to work for him, earning £1 a week. In 1947, Danny was accepted to attend the Royal College of Art. After gaining his 1st class degree there, he stayed on for a further year to study mural design.

In 1954, he completed his five impressive, award-winning murals inside Hammersmith Town Hall and also participated in their conservation in 1983.

I never wanted to be a painter, I wanted to be an illustrator of life… It isn’t enough to make a picture of something – You have to be there, you have to touch it, you have to experience it.

In 1973, he joined the Royal Watercolour Society, followed by the Royal Society of British Artists a decade later. He was also elected keeper of The Royal Society in 1991.

In addition to his many paintings, he illustrated calendars for Oxford University Press and posters for the General Post Office. He often exhibited at the Russell Gallery in Putney. His work is in the permanent collections of The Science Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Bradford Museums and Galleries and Nottingham City Museums & Galleries.

For a number of years, he taught at Sir John Cass School of Art – nicknamed the ‘Aldgate Bauhaus’ and now the School of Art, Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University. As well as teaching, he was the author of a number of books about drawing and painting.

The Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life interviewed and wrote about Alfred Daniels on many occasions. Included in the posts are lots of photos of his sketchbooks and studio in his family home in Bedford Park, Chiswick. You can find out more here.

Making a painting is like baking a cake, one slice is for you but the rest is for everyone else.

Portrait of Alfred Danielscredit

Additional image credits:
Mutual Art

Price Points: Rustic artworks

Rustic artworks

I’m on the look out for something very, very particular to hang on a wall in our dining room – rustic artworks. It’s probably the most niche thing I’ve ever featured here on our blog.

We have lots of paintings, prints and other wall hangings that we brought with us from our old house. Unfortunately, very few of them suit the décor of this cottage. They’re either too modern, too colourful or the subject matter doesn’t sit well in this setting.

I want one or more rustic home fare, still life artworks. To explain, the subject matter needs to be rustic food in the home; either eating it, preparing & cooking it or simply just set out as a vignette. It can’t show a lavish spread or feast, that would be out of keeping with our humble cottage.

Secondly, I’d like the scene to appear as though it could be located in rural Wales (I told you it was niche!). It can’t look like it’s in the Mediterranean with olives and vine tomatoes or somewhere even more tropical with a bowl of mangoes, bananas and pineapples in a fruit bowl. Similarly, something obviously in a town or city wouldn’t look right.

Thirdly, I want it to appear as though it’s set in the early 19th century or earlier. No electric lights, kitchen appliances or other modern trappings.

One of the three (I’m sure you can work out which it is) on my shortlist ticks every one of my boxes. But I think it would look really twee and obvious – what do you think?

  1. La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744-1818): £5.95 – £62.95, PosterLounge
    The original oil painting is held in a private collection in Paris.
  2. Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper (1866-1942): £10 – £90
    The original watercolour is in the permanent collection of National Museum Wales
  3. Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685): $219 – $1,797.00
    The original oil painting is in the permanent collection of Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister – Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.

shop rustic artworks

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
$219 - $1,797.00
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
£10 - £90
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
£5.95 - £62.95
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
$219 - $1,797.00
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
£10 - £90
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
£5.95 - £62.95
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
$219 - $1,797.00
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
£10 - £90
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
£5.95 - £62.95
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
$219 - $1,797.00
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
£10 - £90
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
£5.95 - £62.95
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
Two Peasants Feasting by Adriaen van Ostade
$219 - $1,797.00
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
Market Day in Old Wales by Sydney Curnow Vosper
£10 - £90
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
La Soupière Blanche (The White Soup Tureen) by Anne Vallayer-Coster
£5.95 - £62.95

Designer Desire: Natasha Newton

Montage of Natasha Newton artworks

I love these paintings by Natasha Newton; the fields of fluffy sheep, flock of birds above and little white-washed house with its smoking chimney sitting in the landscape on its own reminds me of our home.

Her mixed media artworks are a little bit folk art and are very, very charming. She sells original paintings, prints, greeting cards and postcards. Sign up to her mailing list to be among the first to hear of new works available.

The lightness of texture and touch in her acrylic and gouache paintings makes them look like they’re textile pieces.

She demonstrates her process and methods in the short film below…

Pay a visit to her Instagram stream to see lots more of her work!

All images © Natasha Newton

Auction alert: Northern Art

L.S. Lowry - "The Reference Library"

Ever since we lived in Todmorden, we’ve been great fans and collectors of contemporary Northern art and Northern fine art painters, in particular, such as Peter Stanaway, Will Turner, Geoff Key and Olivia Pilling. This is why we just had to highlight the upcoming Northern Art – Live Online auction.

It takes place on Thursday 10th March 2022 from 11am. It’s being held by Wilson55 Auctioneers & Valuers (previously Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers) in Nantwich, Cheshire. There will be 187 lots and we’ve included a few by our favourites below.

Buyer’s premium inc. VAT/sales tax: 26.40%
Online commission inc. VAT/sales tax: 5.94%

Lots purchased online with the-saleroom.com will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 4.95% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed. You can register and bid live through their website at no extra charge.

We can offer UK in-house shipping for smaller items, please contact us.  For larger items and furniture please find our recommended couriers

Northern School (20th century) - "Miners"

Lot 5: Northern School (20th century) “Miners”
Unsigned, oil on board. Dimensions: 61cm x 67cm (24in x 26.5in)
Estimate: £300 – £500

L.S. Lowry - "The Reference Library"

Lot 13: L.S. Lowry R.A. (British 1887-1976) “The Reference Library”
Signed in pencil in the margin, with the Fine Art Trade Guild blind stamp, from the edition of 850, limited edition print. Dimensions: image size 24cm x 35cm (9.5in x 13.75in)
Estimate: £1,500 – £2,500

Liam Spencer - "Mancunian Way at Night"

Lot 68: Liam Spencer (British 1964-) “Mancunian Way at Night”
Initialled, oil on board. Dimensions: 19.5cm x 24.5cm (7.75in x 9.5in)
Estimate: £500 – £700

Geoffrey Key - Northern townscape

Lot 73: Geoffrey Key (British 1941-) Northern townscape
Signed and dated 28.6.19, pen drawing. Dimensions: 26.5cm x 17.5cm (10.5in x 7in)
Estimate: £300 – £500

Helen Bradley - "Early November at Blackpool"

Lot 87: Helen Bradley M.B.E. (British 1900-1979) “Early November at Blackpool”
Signed and with fly insignia (lower left), with the artist’s handwritten narrative on verso – “It was early November at Blackpool and the weather was still mild, so we went for our last walk through the Enchanted Garden and on to the lane. There George and I saw two rabbits, we would have liked to chase them, but Aunt Mary called to Mother to call us back. It was nearly tea time and Grandpa would be waiting for us and the year was 1907. Helen Bradley”.
Oil on board. Dimensions: 26.5cm x 34.5cm (10.5in x 13.5in). Gifted by the artist to the vendor’s grandmother.
Estimate: £15,00 – £20,000

Peter Brook - "The Months of the Year"

Lot 93: Peter Brook (British 1927-2009) “The Months of the Year”
Complete set of twelve, 1978, each signed and numbered 100/150 in pencil in the margins, printed under the direction of Stanley Jones at the Curwen Studio, London, published by Thomas Agnew and Sons Ltd., London (originals in the Tate Collection), presented in original portfolio, lithographs printed in colours. Dimensions: each sheet 57cm x 77.5cm (22.5in x 30.5in)
Estimate: £1,000 – £1,500

Reg Gardner - "Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester"

Lot 94: Reg Gardner (British 1948-) “Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester”
Signed, oil on canvas. Dimensions: 29.5cm x 24.5cm (11.5in x 9.5in)
Estimate: £300 – £500

Kyffin Williams - "Snowdon from Llanllyfni"

Lot 106: Kyffin Williams (British 1918-2006) “Snowdon from Llanllyfni”
Signed and numbered 143/250 in pencil in the margin, limited edition colour print. Dimensions: image size 40cm x 49cm (15.75in x 19.25in)
Estimate: £200 – £400

William Turner - 
"Which Way?"

Lot 111: William Turner F.R.S.A., R.Cam.A. (British 1920-2013) “Which Way?”
Signed, titled on verso, oil on board. Dimensions: 19cm x 24cm (7.5in x 9.5in)
Estimate: £800 – £1.200

Olivia Pilling - "Mills and Canal in Halifax"

Lot 118: Olivia Pilling (British 1985-) “Mills and Canal in Halifax”
Initialled, titled on verso, acrylic on canvas board. Dimensions: 49cm x 39cm (19.25in x 15.25in)
Estimate: £300 – £500

Peter Stanaway - "Huddersfield Canal, Stalybridge"

Lot 125: Peter Stanaway (British 1943-) “Huddersfield Canal, Stalybridge”
Signed, titled and dated 2007 on verso, acrylic on canvas. Dimensions: 38cm x 48.5cm (15in x 19.25in)
Estimate: £500 – £700