Sales, 1899-1960
Medium sized oil ‘After Luncheon, Interior Brook Green’, c 1918, priced at £37 in 1952 (equivalent to £1,345 in today’s prices)
Kathleen successfully sold her artwork throughout her life, aged 20-80 years
Family papers and available exhibition catalogues provide a partial record of Kathleen’s sales. She sold her artwork from 1899 to 1960—privately, commercially, and at every available exhibition opportunity. Her first recorded sale was in 1899, at the age of 20, when she sold her painting Boston Market Place for approximately £4, equivalent to £569 in today’s value [1].
Small watercolour ‘Big Ben and Westminster Embankment’, 1907, sold for £5 guineas that year (equivalent to £702 in today’s prices)
In the 1900s, Kathleen’s small European and London watercolour sales ranged from £2–5 guineas, equivalent to £286–£715 today. By the 1930s, her Canadian watercolours were selling for £10 guineas each, equivalent to £897 today [2].
During her time as a politically active suffragette in the early 1910s, Kathleen used her quick sketching techniques to create portraits, raising funds in support of “the Cause” (see section: Politics). During the Second World War, she continued this practice, producing rapid pencil and charcoal portraits, which sold for about £1–10 shillings, equivalent to £88 today. In the 1940s, her pastels and watercolours fetched up to 11 guineas (£656 today) and small to medium-sized oils for up to £30, equivalent to £1,670 today.
Pastel ‘London Barges Regent’s Canal’, c 1947, an oil version was sold in 1950 for £30 (equivalent to £1,300 in today’s prices)
In the 1930s, Kathleen’s prestigious commissioned oil portraits and large oil landscapes sold for £35–£65 each, equivalent to £2,300–£4,950 today. By the 1950s, similar works were selling for £40–£190, the equivalent of £1,980–£3,900 today.
Photograph of large oil ‘Terry Lockett’, daughter of John Lockett Esq, 1930, priced at £60 in 1941 (equivalent to £3,753 in today’s prices)
Sales records for 19 years exist, though with significant gaps, showing annual earnings ranging from £1,000 to £7,600 in today’s prices, depending on the sale of larger works. In total, documented sales amount to £60,300 (adjusted for inflation), with the majority occurring between 1930 and 1950.
A diverse range of buyers purchased Kathleen’s artwork, including family, friends, commissioned clients, Members of Parliament, Lords, Ladies, Army officers, and even strangers—from as far as South Africa. Examples of the well-known people of the time to purchase her art were: -
Sir Edward Packard (family friend), active in the formation and development of the Ipswich Fine Art Club, and Chairman of Ipswich School of Art, bought watercolour ‘Frankfurt am Main’ in 1904 for £2-10 shillings, equivalent to £340 if converted into today’s prices.
Sir Frederic Wilson, proprietor of the East Anglian Daily Times, president of the Institute of Journalists, and former Liberal Member of Parliament for mid–Norfolk, bought a Coblenz watercolour in 1907 for £2 guineas, equivalent to £281 today.
CW Faulkner & Co, a printing and publishing company [3], bought six small artworks to create London postcards in 1908 for £8 guineas, equivalent to £1,108 now.
Lady Thompson, wife of Sir Matthew William Thompson who was a painter and 3rd Baronet, bought an oil portrait of ‘Madame D'Esterre’ in 1929/30 for £35 (see section: Commissions), equivalent to £2,688 today.
John Charles Wilmot MP, (later Lord 1st Baronet Wilmot of Selmeston, Privy Counsellor) was a British Labour Party politician who was serving under Clement Attlee as Minister of Aircraft Production, bought watercolour ‘Summer Morning St Ives’ in 1944 for £7 guineas, equivalent to £409 now.
Lord Paul Ayshford Methuen, painter and zoologist, 4th Baron Methuen bought oil ‘A Cool Place’ in 1946 for £15 guineas, equivalent to £825 today.
Postcard watercolour ‘National Portrait Gallery’, c 1907, part of a set of six small artworks sold for £8 guineas to be made into postcards (equivalent to £1,108 in today’s prices)
References
To calculate the equivalent values in today’s prices, the Measuring Worth website was used that allows the entry of LSD values. Purchasing Power UK£ calculations were chosen (although Relative Value UK £ gave the same results); Commodity calculations were chosen (rather than income, or project ones); and the Real Price is recorded (rather than labour, income, or economic share values) – Note: the income value comes out at 3-6 x the real price recorded depending on the size of the amount and distance in the past (ie, 3 x for large amounts in 1950s, and 6 x for small numbers in 1900s). https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ppoweruk/
For Canadian dollar equivalent values in today’s prices, the Canada’s Inflation Calculator website was used: https://inflationcalculator.ca/. Then a current Canadian $ to UK £ exchange rate value was used.
C.W. Faulkner & Co, London (1870-1950), a publisher/printer producing cards, calendars, card games, diaries, etc: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG161275#:~:text=1870%2D1950%20(fl.),a%20limited%20company%20in%201905
