Early David Hockney artwork to be sold at auction

An early David Hockney artwork, created when the world-renowned artist was just 19, is expected to sell for up to £10,000 at auction.

Bolton Junction Eccleshill, Bradford, is a mixed media work made by Hockney while he studied at Bradford Regional College of Art in 1954.

The work will go on sale at Tennants Auctioneers' Modern and Contemporary Art sale in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on 13 June, with an estimate of between £7,000-£10,000.

It has been in the family of Malcolm Riley, an architect and part-time tutor who taught at the college, and is now being sold.

Francesca Young, modern and contemporary art specialist at Tenants Auctioneers, said it was "really exciting to have it here for sale".

"We didn't know it was coming in," she said.

"Riley bought it from the artist's end of year show and the family have had it ever since, so it's very nice to have something like that that's never been seen before."

Bradford-born Hockney is considered one of the key figures in the 1960s pop art movement.

He is famous for his vibrant depictions of Los Angeles swimming pools, portraits, and large-scale Yorkshire landscapes.

His most iconic works include A Bigger Splash (1967), Portrait of an Artist (1972), Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1971), and A Bigger Grand Canyon (1998).

Hockney was inspired by local everyday life and created a series of works picturing the city's suburbs.

"He was said to walk around Bradford with a pram to carry all his paint supplies," said Young.

The works feature "sludgy tones", she added, capturing an overcast day in Yorkshire – a stark contrast to the bright colours used in his later Californian works.

"It's not necessarily what you expect from him, but it is a lovely thing," she said.

"I imagine it will appeal to lots of collectors who might not have the earlier works in their collections."

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