£169,250 price tag for Trafalgar painting by Beverley artist Steven Dews
AN ARTIST is celebrating after a piece of his work sold for a record fee at auction.
The painting by Steven Dews sold in Bonhams auction house in London for £169,250 – the highest price paid for one of his pieces.
The previous record for a piece by the renowned contemporary marine artist was £120,000.
Beverley-born Mr Dews said: "Records apart, I am delighted art collectors have the confidence in my work and invest these considerable amounts of money in my paintings.
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"I suppose, unlike investing in the stock markets, an art collector can enjoy their acquisition while it appreciates."
Mr Dews, 63, said the inspiration for the painting of Nelson's Victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, was a desire to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the sea battle. It had been expected to sell for about £100,000 but worldwide interest in Mr Dews's work helped push it to a new record price.
Mr Dews, who now lives near Sydney in Australia, often uses eyewitness accounts of battles to give the viewer a snapshot of the event, but this painting was one of his biggest challenges.
"Many famous marine artists have painted this subject over the past 200 years," he said.
"I had to use all my hard-won skill and experience of the past 50 years or so to paint it differently but still get the essence of the drama, all without replicating the conclusions previous artists have drawn before.
"It was quite a challenge."
Mr Dews is known worldwide for his paintings of classic yacht scenes but, lately, he has changed direction because of the growing number of artists painting in a similar style to him.
Born in 1949, Mr Dews was inspired to draw his first sea- faring vessel at the age of five after visiting his grandfather, who was assistant dockmaster in Hull.
This was the first of many pieces and he has now built up a portfolio of work that has made him Britain's most respected contemporary marine artist.
He said: "My interest in marine art has always been with me.
"I can remember, as a small child, drawing and painting ships. Growing up, I always wanted to go to sea."
Mr Dews failed his art A-level, but continued to paint, drawing inspiration from artists in Hull. He is now commissioned five years in advance.
He said: "The honour and pride I have with the Battle of Trafalgar painting attracting worldwide attention is the pride I have in hopefully adding to Hull's long line of marine artists."
Mr Dews has now been commissioned to paint the City of Adelaide ship sailing in the Spencer Gulf off Adelaide.
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