Kathleen Sisterson and Jaddy Paddy Carstairs Artwork in our Antiques & Collectors Auction Sunday 27th October 2018
Unique Auctions is delighted to have in the forthcoming Antiques & Collector’s Auction on the 27th & 28th October a collection of artwork comprising of 14 lots from Northumberland artist Kathleen Sisterson M.A. (1928 – 2018). These consist of a number of pieces that were commissioned as part of the Arts Council’s project ‘Year of the Artist’ in 2000, when Sisterson, along with Newcastle-born poet Keith Armstrong, were joint artist-in-residence at Hexham Races. During this project, both Sisterson and Armstrong made frequent visits to Hexham Races to meet and mingle with the people there – punters, jockeys, owners, trainers and staff alike. This resulted in the combination of artwork and poetry of Hexham Races.
Kathleen Sisterson lived and worked in Hexham and had been an active participant in the local arts scene. Her works have been displayed in many of the galleries in the North including Hartlepool, Sunderland, Newcastle, Hexham Abbey and Keilder Castle as well as through the Tynedale Artists’ Network (now known as Network Artists North East). Sisterson and Armstrong have also collaborated in other projects, one of which resulted in the publication of the book The Darkness Seeping in 1996 based on the carvings in the Prior Leschman Chantry Chapel in Hexham Abbey.
In keeping with the horseracing theme of Kathleen Sisterson, Unique Auctions also has an acrylic painting by the prolific film and television director, John Paddy Carstairs (1910 – 1970). Entitled ‘At the Races’, the painting captures the thrill of race-day with punters mingling amongst the bookmakers with the grandstand in the background. The painting has a number of labels showing that it was exhibited by the Art Exhibition Bureau as part of their Modern Trends in Water-Colour exhibition in 1953.
Carstairs had studied at the Slade School Fine Art, exhibited at Leicester RBA, RA and Paris Salon, along with extensive one-man shows including the Redfern Galler, Leger Galleries and Walker’s Galleries. His works feature in a variety of collections including Trinity College, Oxford, City Art Gallery, Manchester, and Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery, Fifeshire. Carstairs film career began as a camera assistant and went on to direct 45 feature films including The Saint in London, Made in Heaven, Trouble in Store and One Good Turn.
Unique Auctions is currently accepting further entries for the Antiques & Collectors auction, and will be happy to assess any items you have that you may wish to enter into this auction.
