Darnley Fine Art Paintings

Oil on canvas Image size: 30 x 25 inches (76 x 63.5 cm) Original gilt swept frame This portrait is marked by its loose brushwork, which creates a sense of hazy nostalgia. Despite th...

Follower of Ambrose McEvoy Circa 1910 Portrait of a Lady Oil on canvas Image size: 20 x 16 inches (51 x 40.5 cm) Original ebonised Frame A stunning portrait of a lady with flami...

In this pastoral scene, the sky is portrayed with twisting clouds, suggesting the onset of a summer storm. On the right-hand side of the painting, dotted across a field sheep and the...

The lady averts her eyes from the gaze of the spectator, gently resting her chin on her hands. Her dress, makeup and hairstyle are drawn from the in-vogue fashion of 1930s Europe, ch...

John E Fernley, senior 1782-1860 Portrait of an Arabian Bay in an Orientalist Landscape Oil on panel Image size: 16 x 21 inches (40.5 x 53.5 cm) Hand made Orientalist gilt frame Thi...

This intricate still life, representative of Dutch Golden Age ideals, captures the essence of fertility, prosperity and transformation. At the heart of the composition a wicker baske...

This intricate still life, representative of Dutch Golden Age ideals, captures the essence of fertility, prosperity and transformation. At the heart of the composition a wicker baske...

Rendered in an almost autumnal colour palette with Darnley Fine Art, Budd’s oil painting depicts a Romani Gypsy engaging in the practice of fortune-telling whilst an enraptured crowd watches on. Clasped in the fortune-teller’s hand is a crystal ball, whilst behind him is a wall on which a deck of cards is pinned. Crystallomancy and cartomancy are two ways in which fortunes have historically been told, and are two practices particularly associated with Roma communities.In communities where Romani people have historically been confined to the periphery, fortune-telling - or dukkering, as it is called in the Romani language - provided an opportunity to earn money whilst practicing their own culture. Budd was known for his paintings depicting scenes of life from London, so it is likely that the setting of this painting is an anonymous London street. It is easy to see a continuity between the performer depicted in this work from the early 20th century, and the variety of magicians and acrobats enticing crowds in today’s world. Herbert Ashwin Budd Herbert Ashwin Budd was born in Staffordshire in 1881. In his twenties, he was an apprentice lithographer at Allbut & Stanley, and was eventually elected a member of the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists in 1901. Between 1903 and 1907, Budd studied at the Hanley School of Art before winning a scholarship to study at South Kensington’s Royal College of Art. Budd was an Associate of the Royal College of Arts and a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy, the New English Art Club, and the Ipswich Art Club - he was also given an Honourable Mention at the 1927 Paris Salon. In the 1930s, he worked for London Transport and designed their travel posters, whilst also teaching at St Martin’s School of Art until 1949.Herbert Ashwin Budd passed away in 1950, leaving behind a wonderful artistic legacy with his striking oil paintings of London...

Jeremy Andrews Born 1974 Llanidloes Oil on board, signed verso Image size: 9.75 x 7.5 inches Jeremy Andrews works in oils and uses traditional techniques such as under painting and glazing. He works meticulously to recreate what he sees, observing the finest details and subtleties in light and form. A renowned portraitist, Andrews also specialises in landscapes and animal paintings. He lived and worked on a farm for a number of years and gained inspiration from the flora and fauna that surrounded him. He views this as a natural progression, imbuing his landscapes with the same depth and emotion that are perceptible in his other works. THIS WORK IS INCLUDED IN OUR 'MOONLIGHT IN PAINTINGS AND WATERCOLOURS' EXHIBITION, CURRENTLY AT DARNLEY FINE ART...

Cyril Walduck Edwards RI RBA Scene Near London Bridge 1902-1982 Oil on canvas, signed lower left, titled on verso Image size: 23 1/2 x 30 3/4 inches (60 x 78 cm) Original frame Exh...

Portrait of a Privateer Francis Hayman 1708 - 1776 Oil on canvas Image size: 20 x 14 inches (51 x 36 cm) Contemporary style frame Provenance Charles Fleischmann Esq Here, a small ...

Oil on oak panel Image size: 17 1/4 x 22 1/4 inches (44 x 56.5 cm) Period oak frame This is a portrait of a Tudor gentleman in an open next shirt with one hand raised to his chest. ...

Oil on canvas, inscribed on reverse Image size: 18 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches (47 x 47 cm) This abstract still life has been painted intuitively by the artist in a limited palette of soft ...

Leighton Hall Woollatt Life Drawing Class 1905-1974 Oil on canvas, dated '1930' on verso Image size: 26 x 18 inches (66 x 45.7 cm) Handmade contemporary frame In this painting the s...

Attributed to Francesco Bonsignori Italian 1455-1519 Christ as a Boy Oil on wood panel Image size: 12 1/4 x 16 inches (31 x 40.5 cm) Original gilt frame  In this painting on panel, ...

Man Smoking on a Barrel Circle of David Teniers the Younger 1610-1690 Oil on oak panel Image size: 9 1/2 x12 1/2 inches (23.5 x 32 cm) Handmade contemporary frame Here in this tave...

Robert Anning Bell 1863-1933 Portrait of a Girl Reading Oil on canvas, signed upper right Image size: 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches (16.5 x 21.5 cm) Original frame In this composition, a fair-skinned girl with an iridescent blush and lustrous golden-bond hair is depicted engrossed in her reading. The book she holds is strategically positioned facing upwards, to catch the same gentle light that illuminates her almost ethereal face. Her luminous appearance is set against a vivid blue background, providing a striking contrast that enhances the composition. The rich hue of the background serves to emphasise her fair complexion and the subtle luminosity of her blush. This contrast is further accentuated by the deep black of her dress with its juxtaposition of light and dark within the composition creates a focus on the lady’s serene and focused expression. Though the meticulous use of colour and light, the artist captures a moment of quiet introspection, highlighting the delicate beauty of the subject in the contemplative state. Robert Anning Bell Robert Anning Bell was a renowned British painter, sculptor, designer, illustrator and educator. Born in London in 1863, the son of a cheesemonger, Bell underwent varied but extensive artistic training. He began working in an architect’s office before studying at the University College School, the Westminster School of Art, and the Royal Academy Schools. His artistic practice was later influenced by the classical and renaissance art he encountered on extensive trips to Paris and Italy. Upon his return to England, Bell shared a studio with the Sculptor George Frampton...

Oil on canvas Image size: 10 x 7 1/2 inches (25.5 x 19 cm) Contemporary gilt frame This painting is a copy of Thomas Lawrence’s 1822 portrait of Armand Emmanuel du Plessis, Duke of ...

Remigius Van Leemput Portrait of Nicholas Poyntz 1607-1675 Oil on oak panel Image size: 13 x 10 1/4 inches (33 x 26 cm) Contemporary style frame Provenance The Dalva Brothers Colle...

Gerard Ter Borch Interior with a Lady in Grey Washing her Hand 1617 - 1681 Oil on Canvas Image Size: 20 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches (52 x 67.5 cm) Contemporary Dutch ripple frame In this genre painting by Ter Borch, the central woman is composed facing the viewer in a grey satin dress...

Jane Shore doing Penance Richard Redgrave 1804-1888 Oil on canvas, signed with monogram (centre right) Image size: 14 x 27 inches (35.5 x 68.5 cm) Original gilt tabernacle frame Ex...

After Raphael Conestabile Madonna 1483 - 1520 Oil on canvas Image size: 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm) Original ornate hand carved gilt frame Conestabile Madonna Made in compositiona...

English School Cardinal Thomas Wolsey 16th Century Oil on oak panel Image size: 22 1/4 x 18 inches (56.5 x 46 cm) Contemporary style frame Provenance Tudor Exhibition, New Gallery, ...

Oil on canvas on board, signed lower left Image size: 14 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches (36.5 x 44.5 cm) Hand made frame In this atmospheric scene a drunk is walking home, he must be causing some noise as another person is leaning out of his window to the right looking at him. The artist has captured old London beautifully with the old bins, advertising on the walls and the cats bemused by the drunken figure. It sometimes takes an outsider such as Sancha to appreciate the beauty of the scene. Francisco Sancha Lengo Self portrait in London Francisco Sancha y Lengo was born in Malaga in 1874. He attended the School of Fine Arts there and studied under Joaquín Martínez de la Vega, the eccentric, influential teacher that baptised a young Picasso with champagne. Such an education served him well, and by 1897 Sancha was studying at the Royal Academy in Madrid under José Moreno Carbonero...

English School Lower Chedworth 20th Century Oil on board, signed lower right Image size: 19 1/2 x 23 1/2 inches (49.5 x 59.5 cm) Original frame In this painting, the winding countr...

Leighton Hall Woollatt Sculpture Gallery with Madonna and Child 1905 - 1974 Oil on canvas, signed, titled 'Painting of a Antique Cast' from the Royal Academy Schools and dated '28 Ju...

Oil on canvas Image size: 17 x 21 inches (43 x 53 cm) 18th Century Carlotta frame Provenance Private Country Estate When depicting John the Baptist artists often added an outer ga...

Studio of Sir Peter Lely Diana Oil on canvas Image Size: 38 x 50 inches (96.5 x 127 cm)  Ornate auricular frame Provenance The collection of Mr Campbell Private Estate Mary II (16...

Norman Wilkinson Tower of London Oil on canvas, signed lower left, dated June 1960 on verso Image Size: 23 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches (59.6 x 44.5 cm) Original gilt frame Provenance Tryon ...

John Shelley Fennys Lane 1938-2020 Oil on board, signed and dated '1968' on verso Image Size: 35 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches (90 x 69.8 cm) Original frame Provenance The artist, whom exhibi...

Thomas Luny Battle of Tory Island 1759-1837 Oil on Canvas, signed and dated '1825' lower left Image Size: 34 x 23 1/2 inches (86.5 x 59.5 cm) Handmade gilt frame This painting is of Commodore Sir J.B. Warren BT in H.M.S Canada together with H.M.S Robust, H.M.S Foudroyant and five frigates, engaging a French fleet under commodore J.B.F. Bompart, 12th October, 1798 and thereby preventing an invasion of Ireland and Lough Swilly. Britain’s enemies in Europe had long recognised Ireland as a weak point in Britain’s defences. The attempt by the French during the French revolutionary Wars to land troops in Ireland in 1798 as depicted here became known as the Battle of Tory Island. The Society of United Irishmen, led by Wolfe Tone...

Oil on board, signed lower right Image size: 14 1/4 x 16 inches (36 x 40 1/2 cm) Hand made frame Joan Fairfax Whiteside was a prodigious artist and illustrator. Born into an eminent...

Oil on canvas, signed lower right 11 4/5 x 12 9/10 inches (30 x 32 cm) Gilt frame Nora Summers was a British painter, printmaker and photographer who grew up in an engineering family. She studied at Bristol School of Art before progressing on to the Slade School in London where she developed under the teaching of Henry Tonks from 1907-1910. Her work was often characterised by its serene, still quality, here her landscape captures a forest scene as a poignant documentation of the moment- a fleeting memory, frozen in time. She was predominantly shown in the NEAC as well as the Walker Art Gallery. Summer’s contemporaries were captivated by her striking look and modernist style, many of whom used her as a muse for some of their works such as Augustus John, Henry Lampard, and Walter Russel. After meeting her husband Gerald Summers at Slade, the two honeymooned in Italy where they both worked closely on topographical paintings and etchings of Italian...

Oil on copper Image size: 15 x 10 1/2 inches (38 x 26.5 cm) Period style hand made frame This landscape depicts the area surrounding the Tivoli waterfalls in Italy. Thanks to its proximity in Rome, which lies some 30 km to the Southwest, Tivoli has long been a destination for artists. The Italian landscapists whose work was so coveted by Grand Tourist collectors—Claude, Gaspard Dughet and Salvator Rosa—all sketched there, while the Northern Italianates, including Cornelis van Poelenburgh...

British School Oil on Canvas Image Size: 31 inches x 25 3/4 inches (79 x 65.5 cm) Original gilt frame Gathered along a riverside are two fishermen turned in conversation, one of who...

G R Neale Oil on Canvas, Signed and dated ‘1933’ lower right Image Size: 13 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches ( 34.3 x 24.1 cm) Hand made ebonised and gilded frame Accentuated by the works golden tones, the painting is a duality of strength and stillness. Explored through the compositions stoic stone lion; angled to gaze just out of frame; in contrast with the draped ochre curtain of the piece’s background. Reeves and Sons...

Portrait of Lady Mansfield of Ringwood Oil on Canvas Image size: 25 x 30 inches (63 x 76 cm) Original carved & gilded frame POA Provenance Descended through the Family Estate Born in Poland in 1760 to the 2nd Earl of Mansfield and his wife, Elizabeth Mary Murray would later come under the care of her uncle, William Murray (1st Earl of Mansfield) at Kenwood House in Hampstead. David Murray (2nd Earl of Mansfield) was set to inherit the title and full wealth of his uncle, including Kenwood House. Lady Mansfield’s second cousin would soon join her at Kenwood, where they would be raised together and featured in multiple portraits of the time. Her younger sister, Henrietta, is seen in a separate portrait done by Thomas Hudson as well. At the age of 25 she married George Finch-Hatton, an English aristocrat and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1772-1784. Gazing out at the viewer, Lady Mansfield wears a decorated dress, with an abundance of pearls and lace, and a transparent gold lined veil surrounding her right shoulder. The excess of luxurious fabric matches another Hudson portrait of another Lady Mansfield, with the lace detailing and complementary bodice. The depiction of this Lady Mansfield epitomizes the style of portraiture in the 18th century, such as the styles Hudson’s pupils Joshua Reynolds, Joseph Wright, and Peter Toms. From Hudson’s travels to the Low Countries and Italy, he no doubt brought back artistic inspiration from the international pieces he encountered. Thomas Hudson Hudson was a celebrated 18th century portrait painter. Born in Devon in 1701 he studied under the artist Jonathan Richardson and married his daughter, against Richardson’s wishes. He had many artistic friends including William Hogarth and Francis Hayman and travelled with them in Europe in 1748. He also visited Italy with the sculptor Louis-François Roubiliac in 1752. Hudson’s style of portraiture proved so successful that for a decade from 1745 to 1755 he was London’s most popular portrait painter and made a fortune painting the cream of London society and members of the Royal Family. He was also a talented teacher, perhaps too good, as subsequently a number of his former assistants overtook him in popularity including the artist Joshua Reynolds. Hudson retired in the late 1750’s and died in Twickenham in 1779. His most notable works include portraits of King George II and George Friedrich Handel and his “Portrait of a Nobleman in Van Dyck dress.” Many of Hudson’s works may be seen in art galleries. These include the National Portrait Gallery, the National Maritime Museum, the Tate Gallery, the Foundling Museum and the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. His works are also in Museums across the world...

Portrait of Lady Mansfield of Ringwood Oil on Canvas Image size: 25 x 30 inches (63 x 76 cm) Original carved & gilded frame POA Provenance Descended through the Family Estate The y...

Youthful Thoughts Armand Point Oil on canvas, signed and dated 1889 lower left Image size: 18 1/4 x 25 3/4 inches (46.4 x 65.4 cm) Framed Provenance Private collection, France The p...

Circle of Gerrit Dou 1613-1675 A Young Woman Drawing Water From A Well Oil on oak panel Image size: 12 1/2 x 9 3/4 inches (32 x 25 cm) Dutch ripple frame Wax seal verso for Baron Mor...

A R Phillips 20th Century Cathedral View Gouache on board, signed and dated 1946 bottom right Image Size: 12 1/2 x 13 inches (30 x 32.5 cm) Handmade framed This painting, originally...

Preparing to Sail C. Rex James Oil on canvas on board Image size: 17 1/4 x 21 1/2 inches ( 54.5 x 43.5 cm) Original frame This painting by James captures a serene scene of several y...

Sailor Smoking a Pipe Arthur David McCormick Oil on canvas Image size: 19 x 25 1/2 inches (48 x 65 cm) Contemporary frame Arthur David McCormick (1860–1943) was a notable British illustrator and painter, renowned for his landscapes, historical scenes, naval subjects, and genre scenes. Born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, he pursued his education at the Royal College of Art in London from 1883 to 1886. McCormick’s career was marked by his contributions to various illustrated magazines, including the English Illustrated Magazine and the Illustrated London News. He participated in significant expeditions, such as Sir Martin Conway’s journey to the Karakoram Himalayas in 1892 and Clinton T. Dent’s expedition to the Caucasus Mountains in 1895. His illustrations from these travels were featured in Conway’s book “Climbing and Exploration in the Karakoram-Himalayas” (1894) and his own publication “An Artist in the Himalayas” (1895). Throughout his career, McCormick illustrated nearly thirty books, focusing on travel and adventure themes. Some of his notable works include illustrations for Edgar Allan Poe’s “Tales of Mystery and Imagination” (1905) and Henry Newbolt’s “Drake’s Drum and Other Songs of the Sea” (1914). He was also a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1889 to 1938. Navy Cut Sailor Work...

Lord Strathnairm's Arab Charger Gourlay Steell Oil on canvas, signed lower right Image size: 39 x 44 1/8 inches (99.1 x 112.1 cm) Handmade frame POA Provenance Commissioned by Field...

Oil on canvas, signed bottom right Image size: 20 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (53 x 62 cm) Original gilt frame Provenance Artist’s Estate Robert Deborne Robert Deborne was born in 1870 in...

After Robert Walker 1599 - 1658 Portrait of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), bust-length, in armour Oil on canvas Image size: 24 x 29 inches (61 x 73 cm) Original carved gilt frame This...

Studio of Adriaen Isenbrandt 1510 - 1551 The Virgin and Child Enthroned Oil on oak panel, wax seal verso Image size: 10 3/4 x 8 inches (27 x 20.5 cm) Contemporary style frame (image below) POA Provenance Collection of Mrs Marianne Hudson Mary, holding Jesus in her arms, is centrally positioned against a gold detailed architectural backdrop, reflecting the traditional iconography of the enthroned Virgin and Child. This composition suggests the theme of “Maestà” or “Majesty,” emphasising the figures religious significance. In the painting from the studio of Adriaen Isenbrandt, the artist masterfully infuses the scene with rich symbolism and hidden meanings that reflect the cultural and religious context of the period. The infant Christ, seated on the Virgin Mary’s lap, is draped in a delicate, translucent white garment that symbolises his purity. In his hand, he clutches a piece of coral, a multifaceted symbol representing immortality, youth, and health. Notably, coral was also a common teething tool during that era, adding another layer of contemporary relevance. A scarlet-headed blackbird, native to South America, perches gracefully on Christ’s outstretched finger. This bird is a potent symbol of creation and protection, enhancing the divine narrative of the scene. Mary, with a tender and loving gesture, caresses Christ’s back while gazing adoringly at her son, underscoring her role as the nurturing mother of God. Mary is centrally positioned within an architectural alcove, which subtly suggests a heavenly halo without explicitly depicting one. The alcove’s niches, traditionally used to emphasise the importance of sculptures, further highlight her significance. She is adorned in a voluminous red gown, with the undulating folds of the fabric accentuated by white highlights. The red colour of her dress symbolises maternal qualities, while the iridescent blue undercoat, visible in certain areas, signifies sanctity and purity due to its rarity and expense at the time. Moreover, Mary is depicted as the epitome of contemporary Medieval...

Oliver Messel 1904 - 1978 Portrait of a Young Man Oil on canvas, signed and dated 'Oliver Messel 1930' (on the stretcher) Image size: 30 x 25 inches (76.2 x 63.4 cm) Original frame Oliver Messel was born to Leonard and Maud Messel, née Sambourne, on the 13 January 1904 and was the youngest of three children. The family moved to Nymans, the Messel family home in Sussex, from nearby Balcombe in 1915. The house remained in the family until 1953 when it was bequeathed to the National Trust, following a fire in 1947 which destroyed a large portion of the house. The Messels originated from a line of German Jewish bankers on Leonard’s side, however, both family lines boast a number of artistic influences, including Maud’s father. Maud was brought up at 18 Stafford Terrace, Kensington (now known as the Linley Sambourne House Museum), amongst collections of antique porcelain and eighteenth-century furniture, and with a host of artistic visitors such as Henry Irving and Oscar Wilde. Oliver’s own upbringing appears to be influenced by his mother's, as the Messel family were also affiliated with artists and writers and were keen collectors of art, filling their home with textiles, paintings and collections of European and Asian fans from travels abroad. It was amongst such treasures that Oliver, Anne and Linley spent their childhood, in addition to the beauty of Nyman’s extensive gardens. Oliver was schooled at Eton but rather than going up to university was encouraged by family friends, gallery owner Archie Propert and painter and sculptor Glyn Philpot, to attend art school. In 1922 he enrolled at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, where he studied under Henry Tonks. Here, he met the artist Rex Whistler with whom he remained firm friends until Whistler’s death in WW2. Upon leaving the Slade in 1924 Oliver was apprenticed to the studio of portrait artist John Wells, where he learnt various Old Master painting techniques, and met artists such as Jacob Epstein, Augustus John and William Orpen. Whilst at the Slade Oliver developed his interest in Papier Mâché masks, a pastime popular amongst many art students at the time. Whilst apprenticed to artist John Wells several of Oliver’s masks were exhibited at the Claridge Gallery, London, alongside pieces by Whistler and other young artists. These were seen by Serge Diaghilev, director of the Ballet Russes, and Charles B. Cochran, a theatrical producer, both of whom made Oliver offers of work. His first job in the theatre was creating masks for the Ballets Russes’ Zéphyr et Flore, 1925, designed by the French artist Georges Braque, followed by numerous musical revues for Cochran, including Wake Up and Dream!, 1929, with music by Cole Porter. It was during these revues, working with Porter and Noel Coward, that Oliver also began to design headdresses and costumes. In 1932 he was rewarded with his first full commission to design both costume and sets for Helen!, directed by Max Reinhardt. The production design is still celebrated today for its innovative approach and ground-breaking ‘white on white’ aesthetic, which referenced ‘Greek temples, Rococo drapes, Baroque colonnades and Louis XIV carousels’. The success of Helen! led to further offers within the theatre including Reinhardt’s version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Old Vic in 1937, starring Vivien Leigh as Titania and Robert Helpmann as Oberon, the Jean Cocteau play The Infernal Machine in 1940, and Christopher Fry’s translation of Jean Anouilh’s Ring Round the Moon, 1950. One of Oliver’s best-known productions during this period was the Russian ballet The Sleeping Beauty, performed by Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1946 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Encompassing over 200 costumes and four set changes, Oliver’s romantic designs were celebrated for bringing colour back to post-war London, and variations on his designs are still used today. Additional designs for the ballet included Comus in 1940, for which he was released from war duties, and Homage to the Queen, choreographed by Frederick Ashton and performed in 1953 for the Queen’s coronation. His first opera was in 1940 for Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Royal Opera House, followed by a series of productions at the newly founded Glyndebourne Opera House in Sussex, for which Oliver also designed the proscenium arch. He triumphed in 1956 designing a season of four different productions for their Mozart bicentennial, also providing illustrations for the programme covers. His popularity also spread beyond theatre to film, were he worked on over eight different feature films including Romeo and Juliet, 1936, directed by George Cukor. During a three-month research trip to Italy Oliver collected over 3,000 reference images including postcards of artwork by Piero della Francesca, Giovanni Bellini and Leonardo da Vinci, along with prints and photographs of textiles and architectural features. A production of Gabriel Pascal’s Caesar and Cleopatra, 1946, starring Vivien Leigh and Claude Rains, was celebrated for Oliver’s ability to recreate the opulence and luxury of ancient Egypt under the constraints of wartime rationing. Such was his skill that Vivien Leigh in a letter to Oliver declared that “I have of course told Pascal that nobody in the world must do the costumes except you.” He was later nominated for an Academy Award for his work on his final film Suddenly, Last Summer, 1959; an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ American Southern Gothic mystery. Having started his artistic career as a portrait apprentice, capturing the faces of family and friends, Oliver continued to develop this practice until the end of his life.  His style is said to have been influenced by Glyn Philpot, the Messel’s family friend who encouraged Oliver from an early age in his pursuit of art and design. His most prolific period came in the 1950s during which he produced over 50 portraits, which were shown in exhibitions in New York, London and Barbados. The exhibitions included both well-known faces and anonymous sitters captured on Oliver’s travels, and a number of these works have entered private collections. He continued to paint after moving to the Caribbean in 1966, capturing society figures and the rich and famous including fashion designer Carolina Herrera and Bianca Jagger. His style remained unchanged throughout his career, using the same soft painterly strokes and subtle palette as in his theatre designs. By far his greatest contribution in addition to theatre and film was Oliver’s interior and architectural designs. Another, much celebrated commission included Rayne shoe shop in Old Bond Street, where he created jewel-like interiors using the same practice of scaled models as his set designs. Other notable interior designs include those for Norwich and Bath Assembly Rooms, Flaxley Abbey in Gloucestershire, Rosehill Theatre in Cumbria and the Reader’s Digest offices in Paris. However, upon moving to Barbados in 1966, Oliver embraced a new career envisioning architectural concepts for private houses, hotels and public buildings, utilising his experience with interior design to furnish them with bespoke items of furniture and textiles. His first project was Maddox, the deserted eighteenth-century plantation house bought by himself and his partner Vagn Riis-Hansen in 1964. The existing building and gardens were remodelled to Oliver’s designs embracing an inherent theatricality with views out to sea. These were framed by terraces and verandas which extended out from the living rooms creating what is often referred to as a Caribbean style of ‘indoor-outdoor’ living. For the woodwork he used a shade of green that is now known as ‘Messel green’ and often associated with the island of Barbados. Oliver was born into a wealthy family; he travelled extensively and was exposed to art and culture from a young age. A privileged youth, his name is often mentioned amongst the ‘Bright Young Things’, for whom costume parties at country houses and jaunts to Europe on a whim became a thing of fable. This informal group included people such as Cecil Beaton (a life-long friend whom Oliver first met at Eton), Lord Berners, Noel Coward, John Betjeman, Harold Acton, Nancy Mitford, Edith Sitwell, Stephen Tennant...

Reginald Brill 1902 - 1974 Oil on board Image Size: 8 ½ x 10 ½ inches (21.6 x 26.7 cm) Original gilt frame This humorous painting captures the artists perspective of 'A long Day' wi...

An Abandoned Journey 20th Century British School Oil on canvas Image size: 24 x 24 inches (61 x 61 cm) Hand made frame The composition of this painting, featuring a red and white do...

Rotherhide Davie Oil on board Image size: 7 1/4 x 26 3/4 inches (18.5 x 68 cm) Hand made frame This oil painting offers a captivating glimpse into Rotherhithe, a historic area in So...

Georges-Antoine Rochegrosse French 1859 - 1938 The Palace Courtyard Oil on canvas, signed lower left Image size: 26 ¾ x 19 ¾ inches (68 x 50 cm) Ornate orientalist gilt frame (Image ...

James McIntosh Patrick 1907 - 1998 Braemar Castle Oil on board, signed and dated 1937 bottom right Image size: 31.5 x 47.5 inches (80 x 121 cm) Hand made frame £ Provenance Commissi...

Henri Lebasque French 1865 - 1937 Oil on canvas, signed bottom right Image size: 21 1/4 x  18 1/8 inches (54 x 45 cm) Gilt frame Painted circa 1907, Le Moulin de Douvres, Torcy invi...

Oil on canvas Image size: 13 x 16 1/2 inches (33 x 42 cm) Contemporary style frame (Image below) Provenance Private European Collection Darnley Fine Art offers this boldly brushed ...

Oil on panel, signed lower right & dated 1976 Image size: 9 1/2 x 10 1/5 inches (24.13 x 25.9 cm) Ebonised Dutch style frame As part of his four-seasons collection, Newcombe masterfully captures the changing patterns of the year. In this panel titled Winter, Newcombe portrays the snow covered, barren landscape stretching across the composition, evoking the essence of the frosty months. The townscape, meticulously detailed and enveloped by heavy clouds on a crisp, fresh day, transports viewers to the depths of winter. Peter Newcombe...

Oil on panel, signed & dated lower left 1975 Image size: 9 1/2 x 10 1/5 inches (24.13 x 25.9 cm) Ebonised Dutch style frame In this painting by Newcombe, the transition into autumn unfolds as part of his four-seasons collection. Titled Autumn, this panel portrays the culmination of the agricultural year - the leaves falling and the branches gradually revealing their bare forms against the cool toned sky. Newcombe's meticulous detail captures the essence of this seasonal shift as the landscape is bathed in autumnal hues. While the foreground an old wooden plough stands prominently in the untamed corners of the field, its weathered surface telling tales of bygone seasons. Beyond, regimented farmlands stretch out, their neat rows created by the turning of a modern tractor. Overhead, crows fly, echoing the eerie forthcoming of the colder months and the passing of time. Peter Newcombe...

Oil on panel, signed & dated lower right 1975 Image size: 9 1/2 x 10 1/5 inches (24.13 x 25.9 cm) Ebonised Dutch style frame In this painting by Newcombe, the warmth of a summer sunset envelopes the rolling landscape. As part of his four-seasons collection this panel, Summer portrays the gentle heat of an orange sky, casting its glow upon the abundant fauna and ruined castle in the hilltop. The castle could be Corfe Castle. Peter Newcombe...

Oil on panel, signed & dated lower right 1975 Image size: 9 1/2 x 10 1/5 inches (24.13 x 25.9 cm) Ebonised Dutch style frame In this panel by Newcombe, the arrival of spring unfolds across the British landscape. As part of his four seasons collection, Spring captures both the seasonal lightness and the agricultural renewal of the land. The panel comes alive with fresh colours, breathing life into the pastoral landscape. Within this scene, the modern tractor and the traditional hay-cart exist side by side, symbolising the timeless interplay between progress and tradition across changing seasons. The plowed field stretches out its furrows promising abundance. On the left, a tall tree stands watch, its bare branches hinting at the upcoming spring bloom. Above, the sky breaks free from its cloudy cover, revealing a bright blue expanse, signalling sunnier days ahead. Peter Newcombe...

Oil on canvas Image size: 30 x 25 inches (76 x 63.5 cm) Contemporary hand-carved frame This is a charming 18th century portrait of a young boy, sporting a golden child's two-piece w...