Collectable art – classical, contemporary and just plain fun – features in a sparkling treasure trove of lots in Canterbury Auction Galleries’ next sale on Dec 3-4. It’s led by a rare original  work from one of the hottest urban artist of the moment, Mr Doodle – aka Sam Cox from Tenterden, Kent.

The exuberant ‘doodle’ – an acrylic pen on canvas titled ‘Doughnut Dance’ - measures 122cms by 91.5 cms and is signed ‘Mr Doodle 2019’. In 2021 the artist’s prices at auction rocketed worldwide – one piece selling for just under $1M in Tokyo - and he was ranked the year’s biggest auction success by Artnet.  Best of all, the work is being sold to raise funds for the Kent organisation that helped him to worldwide fame in his early days. It’s expected to fetch in excess of £20,000.  

Equally cheerful are three signed lithographs by much-loved Beryl Cook (1926-2008)  featuring her trademark ‘larger ladies’ in various amusing situations, including a ‘Meadow Suite’ depicting a trio of nude musicians. Prices range from £100-£300 each.

The Kent theme continues with a portrait by Arthur Lajos Halmi (1866-1939) thought to be of society scandaliser, Guinevere Sinclair, who lived in Eastwell Manor from 1930. 
Despite her sober upbringing she became a chorus girl in New York and had a long-standing affair with a married multi-millionaire 20 years her senior, with whom she had three children. 
They married in 1921 but he died a year later. She married George, the Earl of Midleton and they moved into Eastwell. But 30 years later – in a case of what goes around, comes around - he moved out to be with his mistress. The painting, from Eastwell itself, carries an estimate of £1,000+.