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Watmough Exchange

1/9/2017

6 Comments

 
PictureA Sylvia Watmough creation
Over the festive break a chap called Ray Horton got in touch with me to enquire about an artwork featured in my seventies gallery. The piece by Sylvia Watmough prompted an email dialogue because it turns out that Ray has another of Sylvia’s creations. His initial note;

“I saw your Sylvia Watmough artwork; I have a larger version of the same thing which was given to me in the late sixties by Sylvia Watmough. Have you any idea about its value or any more information whether it's collectible?”

Here’s my response to Ray’s email;

“Hi Ray,
Nice to hear from you, thanks for getting in touch.

With regards to your questions about Sylvia Watmough, I am afraid that I can't help. I acquired my picture some 15-20 years ago and since then, I have struggled to find out much about her at all.

I have seen larger dashboards before and in different colourways. I'd love to see what yours looks like. Perhaps you can email me a photo. I'll write a blog post if you do. 

As to the value/collectable nature of her works, again I am unsure. Things do appear on ebay/etsy from time to time but of course the value is only determined if the pieces actually sell.

I am fascinated that you got your artwork from the artist herself; that is a cool thing to be able to report. Did you know her? Was she a friend?

Kind regards,
​Adrian”

Our initial exchange of emails led to others and resulted in the sharing of the attached image and the writing of this blog post.

Apparently, Ray managed a DIY store where Sylvia Watmough purchased framing materials. On one occasion Ray delivered an order to her home/studio in Welling, Kent and was presented with the artwork shown in the photo.

The piece hanging on my lounge wall is signed but unnamed. I call it “Dashboard” because every time I look at it I think of the dashboard of an old car. Whilst I have the family saloon dashboard, Ray has the full blooded, multi instrument, sports car – think my Rover P5 to his Jaguar E Type. I think Ray’s artwork is terrific, it’s bigger and better than mine and, if I am honest, I’d like to own it too.

I guess that for Ray, value is important if he wants to sell his dashboard on (I have no intention of parting with mine). My guess is not a significant value given the difficulty in finding anything out about Watmough – but, and I may have stated this before - I am just a bloke that likes seventies stuff and that makes my point of view worth even less.

​Value aside, but of more importance for me, is that I am delighted that Ray managed to find me and engage in some dialogue. This is the kind of interaction that makes running my own website worthwhile.

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6 Comments
chris nicholas
3/9/2017 01:41:37 am

Hi, I've just stumbled across your piece because I too have a wall art by Sylvia Watmough. I was trying to find out more about it and the artist. It is a large panel [w 36 x H 15 inches] in similar colours to the one featured here, but mine is signed just Watmough. As you've stated there is very little on the internet so far about her. A trip to the library is in order I think.
Lovely site btw
Thanks
C

Reply
Adrian
3/17/2017 06:37:32 am

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your comments and happy hunting in your search for further insights about Sylvia - if you find out anything interesting, please let me know. And if you ping me a photo of your panel, I'll add it to the post. Good luck at the library. Best regards Adrian

Reply
Will
11/20/2017 05:19:23 am

Hi, I also have one of these. Ours is about 1ft high by 4ft wide and in turquoise colours, but very similar style.

Reply
Adrian
11/20/2017 06:28:31 am

Thanks for getting in touch Will. As I responded to Chris above, if you ping me a photo of your panel, I'll add it to the post. Kind regards Adrian

Reply
Ross forbes
9/9/2022 05:41:17 am

I have one very similar to the one at the beginning of the post

Reply
Adrian Baldwin link
10/6/2022 12:34:29 am

Hi Ross,

Excellent. I am pleased to hear that more are out there and surviving. Is yours you orange and beige colourway too?

Thanks for getting in touch.

Kind regards

Adrian

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