Art collection goes under the hammer

There are in the region of 350 lithographs, linocuts, screenprints, etchings and wood cuts and engravings that after advice from an art historian might not represent any official historic value but are nonetheless interesting.

The eclectic mix includes scenes depicting Dover, Tenterden, Maidstone, Ivychurch, Canterbury and Sepham Heath near Sevenoaks with seascapes, wildlife and of course oast houses.

Most of the art was purchased 40 years ago as part of the Kent Visual Arts Loan Scheme (KVALS) designed for lending to schools and work places. This offered the opportunity for people to experience and benefit from art on a daily basis when it might otherwise not have been a possibility.

KVALS has not run for more than 10 years and the frames have been in storage since that time.

The catalogue can be viewed online with Sworders auction house. The Kent County Council Art Collection runs from lots one to 92 with an estimated maximum value of £45,700 and individual lots varying from £200 to £1,500.

Any final figure will be subject to listing and auction fees and transport costs.

Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services Paul Webb said: “The reason for selling is a practical one, with the closure of the basement store where the art works are kept.

“It is a really fascinating collection and if you have time, you can disappear down a Google rabbit hole learning more about the artists and their inspiration. I am sure the works have brought a lot of joy over the years to many people, and will now continue to do so.”