A rare print by one of Scotland’s leading female artists has emerged from a London collection to be sold at Bonhams in Edinburgh at its annual Scottish Sale between 22 -“ 24 August 2007.

At Bonhams Sale in April 2006 a small wood engraving of “Sheep Dipping Wales,” by Agnes Miller Parker (1895 - 1980) was sold for £800, even though it was in less than perfect condition. Despite being an edition of only 20 made, another proof of this same print has emerged from a private London collection, and is expected to fetch in excess of £1,000 when it goes under the hammer in Edinburgh this August. The lot also contains an image of two bison.

Bonhams Paintings Specialist, Dr Chris Brickley, is delighted to have come across another work by the esteemed female artist. “Parker is one of the most admired artists we sell, and I am always frustrated that we see so few on our valuation travels,” he said. “They are stylish, succinct, and very much of their period whilst maintaining a timeless appeal. We were proud to achieve a world record for the artist two years ago a Parker tempera painting,”The Serpentine,” c.1930, sold for £27,000 in Edinburgh in 2005.

Agnes Miller Parker was born in Irvine and studied at the Glasgow School of Art between 1911 - 17, before becoming a member of staff at the institution. In 1918 she married the painter William McCance, and lived in England for much of her life before returning to Glasgow in 1955. She also lived for many years at King’s Cross on Arran. She became particularly well-known for her fine draughtsmanship and skilful use of black and white design in wood engravings, and in 1930 she moved to Wales to illustrate Aesop’s Fables for the Greynog Press. She died in Arran in 1980.

Posted: 06|12|07 at 2:53 pm. Filed under: Press Release.