A treasure trove of royalty-approved artwork found in a locked garage after 17 years is expected to raise “unlimited” fortune.
Shockwaves have been sent to the art world after the discovery of 68 paintings of late British abstract star Sharon Gee – known as “the Picasso Woman”.
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Among fans of her unique style was the Queen Mother, who requested one of her Impressionist-style “White Lace” daubs for the private Royal Collection.
The artist’s known paintings are owned by individual collectors and businesses, most notably the Rugby Football Union, which hung its bright red artwork “The Rose” in its Twickenham center.
She has been hailed in dozens of dazzling reviews in respected publications including Sunday Times Culture magazine and leading art periodical, ARTnews.
In 2019, during an exhibition of her “latest paintings”, art historian Simone Sinsley – also critic and professor of modern and contemporary art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago – said: “The simple and direct vision of this artist should surprise and delight the general public as well as collectors. “
The respected Chicago gallery has also compared her to modern art master Pablo Picasso for her diverse style and refusal to reproduce popular works.
Now the art world is in turmoil with discussions about the ‘priceless’ cachet of Sharon Gee’s paintings found in an abandoned garage in East Finchley, north London.
The painter’s grief-stricken partner reportedly gave up her invisible work after her sudden death from a brain tumor in 2004.
And they were only revealed last month when a row of closed garages were being demolished to make way for a new residential block.
Stunned, Peter Hannam, who runs Hannams Auctioneers based in Selborne, Hants., Told The Sun: “The images have been bagged in a box – slipped between pieces of cardboard – since the artist’s death.
“It was too painful for the owner to do anything else.
“The owners of the building want to turn it into residences. Now all of this amazing artwork was out of the woods, almost literally.
“It is a treasure trove of art from a much esteemed artist who tragically passed away just as her career was taking off. We were fortunate to receive the call after the discovery.
“Today, 17 years later, Sharon Gee’s name is still remembered and there is considerable interest in the global art image market for this cachet of unique abstracts.
“We received calls from America and Canada, and an interest in the Far East, where his work sold well while the artist was alive.
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“It’s very unusual and exciting; the paintings even have Royal Assent.
“Previously we had a vase found by a demolition company in a slightly similar situation, and it cost half a million pounds. The paints will be fine.
Born in Kent, Sharon Gee was a patron of the international art project Young Masters of Arts before her tragic death at the age of 43.
The self-taught artist’s career took off just before her brain tumor took hold and she was known to “employ design in its simplest form” through landscapes, monochrome paintings and still lifes.
A 2000 article, titled “The Queen Mother’s Artist,” recounted how the veteran royal hung the oil painting of Sharon in a living room in Clarence House for his guests to admire.
Sir Alastair Aird, Former Private Secretary to Her Majesty, said: “Indeed the Queen Mother remembers the arrival of the painting and was very excited when she saw it. She is very grateful and absolutely delighted.
Sharon said of her royal praise: “When I heard that she had expressed an interest in my work, I was really touched.”
One of the artist’s most treasured possessions was a 1998 letter from Clarence House thanking her for her painting.
Another letter, from the Queen Mother’s maid of honor, wished her well before an exhibition in the United States.
Two years before her death, 20 of Sharon’s works appeared in an exhibition in Tennessee, USA, alongside works by the great 18th-century painter Thomas Gainsborough and Alice in Wonderland creator Lewis Carroll.
An online auction of the lost work of Sharon Gee is live and viewing is open to the public at Hannams Auctioneers based in Selborne, Hants starting Tuesday.
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