Lucy Kemp-Welch – Paintings for Sale, Biography & Market Guide
Original Paintings by Lucy Kemp-Welch Available
Lucy Kemp-Welch (1869–1958) was one of Britain’s most celebrated equestrian and animal painters, renowned for her dynamic depictions of horses, rural life, and the English countryside. Her work remains highly sought after among collectors of Victorian and early 20th-century British art. At Blondes Fine Art, we specialise in sourcing and selling original works by Lucy Kemp-Welch, including oil paintings, drawings, and works on paper.
WORKS THAT WE LOANED TO THE MAJOR RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION are now back with us and available to view & purchase.
Who Was Lucy Kemp-Welch?
Lucy Kemp-Welch was born in Bournemouth in 1869 and became one of the leading female artists of her generation.
She studied at the Bushey School of Art under the influential artist Hubert von Herkomer, where she quickly gained recognition for her exceptional ability to draw and paint animals, particularly horses.
Her reputation grew rapidly after the success of her monumental painting Colt Hunting in the New Forest, which established her as a major figure in British sporting and rural art.
Throughout her career, she exhibited widely at the Royal Academy of Arts and became known for her technically accomplished and highly energetic compositions.
She lived and worked at 20 High Street, Bushey. She was 26 when she exhibited her first painting, Gypsy Horse Drovers, at the prestigious Royal Academy in London in 1895. Perhaps the most famous work by Kemp-Welch was 'Black Beauty'. In 1915 she was commissioned by J.M. Dent to illustrate Anna Sewell's classic 'Black Beauty'. She used 'Black Prince' as the model , a horse given to her by Robert Baden-Powell. It has been said that this commission allowed her to draw parallels from her own life to the book , with her independence, sense of duty, hopes and disappointments all featuring in the classic tale. The years of WW1 were a difficult time for all and the time during which she made her most renowned images -Forward to Victory-Enlist Now, poster among many others . This aspect of her life is particularly interesting, how she was given unfettered access to the Cavalry horses in training and how she persistently attempted to find ways to get out to the front to paint the War Horse. This is a topic of another specific blog.
When Sanger’s Circus came to Watford, she was entranced and for several seasons she followed the circus, recording life behind the scenes and in the ring.
Lucy Kemp-Welch’s Style and Subject Matter
Lucy Kemp-Welch is best known for:
Equestrian paintings
Working horses and rural scenes
Military and agricultural subjects
Dynamic landscape compositions
Lucy Kemp-Welch and Horse Painting
Lucy Kemp-Welch occupies an important position in the history of British equestrian art.
Her work captured:
Farm horses and heavy horse teams
Hunting and riding scenes
Horses in motion across open landscapes
Rural working life in Britain
Her paintings remain among the finest examples of British sporting and animal painting from the late Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Why Collect Lucy Kemp-Welch?
Interest in Lucy Kemp-Welch’s work remains consistently strong due to:
Her paintings appeal to collectors of:
Sporting art
Traditional British painting
Animal and equestrian subjects
Important female artists
Lucy Kemp-Welch Paintings for Sale
We regularly handle original works by Lucy Kemp-Welch, although important paintings can be difficult to source due to strong collector demand.
Contact us to discuss available works
Selling a Lucy Kemp-Welch Painting
We are actively seeking paintings and drawings by Lucy Kemp-Welch.
Our service includes:
Immediate purchase options
Discreet private sales
No auction fees
If you own a Lucy Kemp-Welch artwork and are considering selling, we are happy to provide confidential advice based on current market demand.
Contact us today today
Lucy Kemp-Welch and British Sporting Art
Lucy Kemp-Welch’s work remains highly important within the tradition of British sporting and rural painting.
Collectors interested in her work often also explore:
Her paintings continue to attract collectors looking for historically important and visually powerful examples of British equestrian art.
Modern British & Traditional British Art Specialists
Blondes Fine Art are UK-based art dealers specialising in Modern British and traditional British paintings, offering expert advice on collecting, valuation, probate, and private sales.Lucy Kemp-Welch
We have our own personal collection of work by this artist so do contact us if you are interesting in discussing her work or thinking of selling . We are also selling a number of original drawings by Lucy from our own collection so do contact us for more details .