An oil painting donated by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will go under the hammer in Ripon this month.
The painting of Richmond Castle will be included in Elstob Auctioneers’ fine art and antiques sale on June 17.
Members of the public will be able to bid at the sale in person or online. The proceeds will raise funds for Richmond community arts venue The Station.
The painting, by contemporary landscape painter Alice Boggis-Rolfe, carries a price estimate of £1,800 to £2,200. It comes with a signed title card from the Prime Minister.
Broadcaster Sky gave the painting to Mr Sunak to mark the Sky Arts channel becoming free-to-view. With Sky’s blessing, the Richmond MP donated it to the gallery at The Station, which is housed in Richmond’s former Victorian Railway Station.
It was displayed in The Station gallery but is now being sold to raise money for the venue.
Mr Sunak said:
“I thought it most appropriate that The Station – a centre for the arts in Richmond – should benefit from Sky’s generosity and people in Richmond should have the chance to see the work too.”
Rohan McCulloch, paintings and sculptures specialist at Elstob Auctioneers, said:
“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a fabulous piece of art by one of the UK’s up-and-coming artists at the same time as supporting a great cause. Alice Boggis-Rolfe regularly sells out at exhibitions.”
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Chris Brown, general manager of the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, said:
“Elstob Auctioneers are kindly waiving all fees associated with the sale so 100% of the proceeds will go straight back into The Station and supporting other at-risk buildings in Richmondshire.”
Commissioned by Sky to produce the painting, Alice Boggis-Rolfe said:
“I am delighted and honoured that Rishi Sunak has donated my painting to The Station in Richmond and look forward to the auction.”
The fine art and antiques sale will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 9.30am. Bids can be made in person, online or by telephone.
The contents of the sale, including the painting, will be available to view at the Ripon saleroom on Friday, June 16 from 10am until 4pm.
For further information, call 01765 699200 or email: info@elstob.co.uk