Prefacing the busiest month of the art calendar is another round of British Art Fair over at Saatchi Gallery.
There is a noticeable rise in new exhibitors and the presentations have certainly gotten more adventurous. This year, part of the top floor is devoted to digital art; perhaps an attempt at attracting younger audiences and collectors?
Nonetheless, here are 10 personal highlights I think you shouldn’t miss:
Frank Brangwyn, The Knockout, c.1919, ink, red and black chalk on paper (Jonathan Clark Fine Art, stand 11)
A fine demonstration of Brangwyn’s strength at depicting crowds and dark spaces, which comes across in his prints for various illustrated books.
Zacron, Head Study (Death Mask of Rousseau), 1965, wax crayon, charcoal, pencil, gouache, and collage on paper (Brooke-Walder Gallery, stand 5)
Joseph Edward Southall, Head study of a young woman, 1898, silverpoint on paper (Patrick Bourne & Co, stand 7)
In addition to the sensitivity of the draughtsmanship, I really love the frame, a simplified interpretation of a Rossetti/Watts frame.
Paul Feiler, Nemi, near Rome, 1950, oil on board (Alan Wheatley Art, stand 18)
Very early Paul Feiler that’s practically unrecognisable from his later abstractions.
The Tree Art Gallery (stand 24)
Dorothea Sharp, Playing Amongst the Rocks, St Ives (Haynes Fine Art, stand 41)
Edward Bawden, Too Much Hadham – a Design for Shell, 1934, pen and black ink (Harry Moore-Gwyn, stand 26)
Abbott and Holder (stand 56) in collaboration with Imperial War Museums
Gavin Nolan at Charlie Smith London (stand SOLO 6)
Kate McCrickard at Julian Page (stand SOLO 7)
British Art Fair runs until 29 September 2024 at the Saatchi Gallery, London, https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/
Nigel Ip 
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