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British watercolours, oils, cartoons and illustrations, and figurative sculptures

Chris Beetles Gallery occupies a distinct position in the world of commercial art galleries by specialising in traditional artworks from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and by remaining particularly focussed on British watercolours, oils, illustrations, cartoons and figurative sculptures.

Chris Beetles Gallery holds the greatest stock of original illustrations and cartoons for sale in the world, with extensive collections of original artwork by all the great British illustrators, including Louis Wain, Arthur Rackham, William Heath Robinson, E H Shepard and Ronald Searle, and such contemporary greats as John Burningham and Michael Foreman. We are also the exclusive representative of Peter Brookes of The Times, Matt of the Daily Telegraph, and Ed McLachlan, the veteran doyen of the joke cartoon.

The gallery was founded by Chris Beetles in 1975, and since 1984 has been based in St James’s, London’s famous art dealing district. Our full range of stock is available to view on site, on request. With over 30,000 pictures in stock, and prices ranging from £100 to £250,000, we are confident that no other gallery in the United Kingdom can offer such a wide range of desirable, original artwork for sale.

Chris Beetles Gallery holds the country’s largest stock of 18th, 19th and the 20th century British watercolours, and specialises particularly in works by Thomas Rowlandson, members of the Old Watercolour Society, Hercules Brabazon Brabazon, Albert Goodwin and S R Badmin. Widely known for our expertise in watercolours, the gallery also deals significantly in oils and sculptures. The gallery manages the estates of the popular painters and sculptors, Bernard Dunstan RA, Sydney Harpley RA and Enzo Plazzotta, and represents a select group of contemporary artists, Anthony Green RA, Keith Grant and James Butler RA.

Chris Beetles Gallery has done much to popularise this rapidly growing collectors’ area, and every November stages ‘The Illustrators’, an exhibition celebrating British illustrators and cartoonists, with over 500 pictures for sale. The catalogues produced for this and other exhibitions comprise the definitive literature on the subject, bought by museums and libraries around the world.

Specialist exhibitions change on a monthly basis, while a permanent display of the full range of stock is maintained on the other floors of this bright, dynamic space. A complete framing service and advice on valuation and restoration are available here.


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