The Abstract & Immersive Works of William Tillyer

Few artists have such a hugely varied body of work as William Tillyer, an extremely versatile artist whose abstract works have an immersive power and immediacy to them. We are delighted to be offering the two works in our upcoming Modern British & 20th Century Art Auction.


26/03/2020     MODERN & CONTEMPORARY PRINTS, MODERN BRITISH ART

Few artists have such a hugely varied body of work as William Tillyer, an extremely versatile artist whose abstract works have an immersive power and immediacy to them.

His work has developed and changed over decades. The first piece shows echoes of his Westwood series, painted during his time in North Yorkshire, at Westwood studios. Working on a large scale, using a broom head he created huge arcs and commas of paint, exploring ‘the physicality of the medium.’ These bold marks, while appearing accidental and totally abstract, are in fact symbolic of the landscape around him: blue is the sky; brown the earth; green the trees.

 William Tillyer (b.1938) ENCOUNTER IN THE 3RD STYLE MATRIX

William Tillyer (b.1938) ENCOUNTER IN THE 3RD STYLE MATRIX, Estimate £3,000-5,000

The second, one of his Balcony series, is a watercolour and quite different in tone and impact to the oil. The Balcony series are watercolours painted by Tillyer whilst touring Southern Europe in 2010 and consist of views of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, painted from hotel balconies.

 William Tillyer (b.1938) THE BALCONY 47

William Tillyer (b.1938) THE BALCONY 47, Estimate £250-350

We are delighted to be offering the two works in our upcoming Modern British & 20th Century Art Auction, for more information about the sale please contact

Jane Oakley

janeoakley@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

 

RECEIVE AN EMAIL WHEN THE SALE GOES LIVE

 

 


 

Recent News

 

John Ruskin | A Remarkable Archive Comes to Auction at Sworders

A major highlight of our forthcoming 'DREAMS | A Unique Private Collection' sale on 9 July is a remarkable archive of letters and manuscripts by John Ruskin (1819–1900), the celebrated Victorian polymath. This unparalleled group – numbering in the hundreds – is believed to be the largest collection of Ruskin correspondence in private hands and spans a vast range of topics from art and architecture to politics, religion, and personal reflection.

2 July 2025

Valuation Day Discovery

'The Scented Garden of Abdullah the Satirist of Shiraz' - also known as 'The Bagh-i-Muattar' - quickly caught the attention of our book specialists, when a copy bound in full vellum was brought in by a local client to our weekly valuation day.

2 July 2025

The Glass Sale | A Medium of Light, Form and Infinite Expression

We are thrilled to launch The Glass Sale - a brand-new addition to our auction calendar! The inaugural sale will take place on Tuesday 28 October and will become a biannual fixture in our calendar going forward.

20 June 2025

 


 

Get Sworders News