Dame Laura Knight's 'Derby Days' up for auction in Newbury

Dame Laura Knight, R.A, R.W.S (1877-1970), Derby Day, Watercolour and pencil, Signed, lower right, 24 x 35cm (9 1/2 x 13 3/4in.), Est. £10,000- £15,000

Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions are holding a 'Sporting and Country Life' sale on 13th December at Donnington Priory, near Newbury.

The one which most caught our eye is a Dame Laura Knight watercolour called Derby Days (pictured at the top of the page).

Dame Laura was the first woman ever to be elected to the Royal Academy, and painted everything from wartime scenes to circuses and theatres. Focusing on the crowd rather than the sporting action, this beautiful picture is estimated to fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.

There are a number of other interesting lots up for sale, with one highlight being an action packed painting by Peter Biegel depicting the races at Newmarket. It is expected to be sold for £8,000 to £12,000.

Peter Biegel (1913-1988), Into the dip, Newmarket, Oil on canvas, signed lower left, 63.5 x 76.2cm (25 x 30in.). Est: &pound;8,000-&pound;12,000 — Peter Biegel (1913-1988), Into the dip, Newmarket, Oil on canvas, signed lower left, 63.5 x 76.2cm (25 x 30in.). Est: £8,000-£12,000

There is also a vivid John Frederick Herring Senior painting featuring a horse and hounds, and a handsome bronze by James Osborne which is expected to go for £5,000 to £7,000.

James Osborne (1940-1992), Eclipse signed, dated and numbered 'Osborne 89, 12/30' (on the base), bronze, 13 1/8 x 20 in. (33.3 x 50.8 cm.) (including the marble plinth). Est. &pound;5,000-&pound;7,000 — James Osborne (1940-1992), Eclipse, signed, dated and numbered 'Osborne 89, 12/30' (on the base), bronze, 13 1/8 x 20 in. (33.3 x 50.8 cm.) (including the marble plinth). Est. £5,000-£7,000

Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.