Art from prestigious Paisley collection set to fetch £1m at auction

The work will be sold in person in Edinburgh and online and includes paintings from the world-famous Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists.

The pieces had been exhibited at Glasgow Art Club in August before moving to the saleroom in Edinburgh’s Broughton Place and remain on view there until this coming Thursday when they will be sold.

The auction is part of an ongoing effort to secure PAI’s future and is expected to raise around £1 million. The organisation is now based in Glasgow Art Club’s historic building in Bath Street with the two having forged a partnership.

Carly Shearer views some of the work (Image: Stewart Attwood/Lyon & Turnbull)

Nick Curnow, Head of Fine Art at Lyon & Turnbull, will be on the rostrum on Thursday evening and he said: “This auction is a rare opportunity to own a piece from a collection which represents not only much of the best in Scottish art, but also contemporary Scottish collectors’ taste for the work of European artists. 

"It has been very exciting to watch interest building in the sale over the last few weeks and I anticipate a very busy night ahead."

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Paisley Art Institute has been key in promoting and supporting Scottish artists’ work since 1876 and is now in its 135th year.

Its collection, amassed over the past century through donations and gifts and housed within Paisley Museum since 1914, is regarded as being among Scotland's often-overlooked, artistic gems.

With work by artists such as Sir John Lavery, who is currently being celebrated in a major retrospective in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh, and F.C.B. Cadell, Sir James Guthrie and George Henry, the sale is attracting interest from across the world. 

The institute had previously enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Paisley Museum, which members viewed as their 'home' and with the collection among the museum's primary attractions.

However a row ensued when plans were revealed for the newly upgraded, £45million Paisley Museum. PAI claimed that a contractual agreement guaranteed use of six galleries as display space for exhibitions. Insiders at Renfrewshire Council denied the existence of any relevant documentation.

OneRen, the charitable trust which manages leisure, culture and sporting opportunities in Renfrewshire, said that PAI had been offered the "large, prominent Balcony Gallery" within the building as an exhibition space. This offer was turned down by PAI.

Mrs Anne Hargan of the PAI told the Herald in June 2023: "The Fine Art institute has given so much to Paisley over its long history and we are not against any attempt to breathe new life into the town with an investment of money - but it cannot be at the cost of our organisation.

"At the moment, the plans for Paisley Museum leave us as a casualty of the refurbishment. They have not been explicit in explaining that the exhibits in the museum will be permanent with no room for our collection in the galleries."

In response a spokesperson for OneRen, which oversaw the museum refurbishment and now operates the attraction, said:  "The museum is for all of Paisley and it will reflect all of the communities it serves – indeed, we have engaged with more than 70 community groups to shape the audience offer. 

"The PAI is a key part of our cultural heritage and we hope that they will work with us to tell the stories of the town’s incredible artists and artistic legacy."

With the museum now open, PAI has formed a partnership with the Glasgow Art Club, moving its collection into the Glasgow club's Bath Street premises. The auction of paintings will allow PAI to meet rising costs.