Mitchells is to host the launch of an important new book cataloguing the life and work of 'The Lake District's Most Prolific Painter' Edward H. Thompson (1879-1949), written by Charles Nugent.

The event takes place at Mitchell's saleroom in Cockermouth on Monday 8 December from 6pm and will be attended by Thompson's granddaughter, Barbara, and Charles Nugent's widow, Louise. Hundreds of Thompson paintings have been sold through Mitchells saleroom over the years, which holds the all-time record price achieved for a Thompson of £10,800 for a large watercolour, 'Winter Sunset, Vale of Keswick' in June 2011.

The book launch event has been timed to coincide with viewing for their Antiques & Fine Art Sale from Wednesday 10 to Friday 12 December. To help celebrate the launch, Mitchells is appealing for entries of Thompson paintings for this sale, which has a closing date of Friday 7 November.

Born in Workington, Edward H. Thompson lived all his life in the northwest of the Lake District and was employed from a young age as a clerk in the steel works in Workington. He was mostly self-taught and did not become a full-time professional artist until 1918, after which time his output increased significantly in response to the growing Lake District tourist industry. He is estimated to have produced as many as 10,000 pictures in his lifetime, many of which have been sold through Mitchells saleroom.

Published posthumously, the book was compiled and written by Charles Nugent, who previously worked in the drawings and watercolours department at Christie's. He was also a curator at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester where he authored illustrated catalogues of its important collection of British watercolours as well as of the Turner watercolours in the Manchester Art Gallery. The book brings together the facts of Thompson's life with illustrations of a range of his pictures, beginning with early oil paintings in the Edwarian period and continuing into the 1930s and later where watercolours predominate.

If you would like to attend the book launch or have a Thompson painting you'd like to sell, contact Mitchell's office now with your details by telephoning 01900 827800 or email info@mitchellsantiques.co.uk

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

MITCHELLS, COCKERMOUTH

mitchellsauction.co.uk

Nov 6, Home & Garden sale

Nov 13, Home & Garden sale

Nov 20, Home & Garden sale

Nov 27, Home & Garden sale

1818 AUCTIONEERS, CROOKLANDS

1818auctioneers.co.uk

Nov 6 to 23

Antique, Vintage and Later Furniture and Furnishings; Pictures Artworks and Imagery featuring the Gallery of Affordable Art; Antique and Vintage Jewellery and Watches; Musical Instruments and Equipment.

Nov 13 to 30

Antiques, Vintage and Collectables including Objet d’Art; Collectable Figurines and Studies; Medals, Arms and Militaria.

Nov 20 to Dec 7

Antique, Vintage and Later Furniture and Furnishings; Pictures Artworks and Imagery featuring the Gallery of Affordable Art; The Green Sale.

Nov 27 to Dec 14

Antiques, Vintage and Collectables including Objet d’Art; Toys, Models and Railwayana; Antique, Vintage and Later Furniture and Furnishings; Antique and Vintage Silver and Silver Plate.

TENNANTS, LEYBURN

tennants.co.uk

Nov 7, Antiques & Interiors, to include a section of silver

Nov 12, Natural History & Taxidermy

Nov 14, Asian Art

Nov 14, Silver, Jewellery, Objects of Vertu and Books from the Collection of the Late Anthony Phillips

Nov 15, The Autumn Sale

Nov 15, Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver

Nov 15, British, European & Sporting Art

Nov 19, Coins & Banknotes

Nov 21, Antiques & Interiors

Nov 28, Books, Maps & Manuscripts