The studio of Barrington Tabb (1934 - 2022) RWA

Barrington Tabb (1934-2022) RWA, Oil on board - Moonlight on bottom of Christmas Steps, Bristol

Estimate £200-300

A remarkable collection of paintings by renowned Bristol artist Barrington Tabb (1934–2022) will be auctioned on Thursday 5th June at Clevedon Salerooms. Ahead of the sale, a private viewing will take place on Thursday 29th May in the beautiful surroundings of All Saints Church, Clifton. While the event is by invitation, those with an interest are warmly encouraged to attend. To request an invitation, please contact Henry Michallat at hm@clevedonsalerooms.com.

It has been said that Barrington Tabb was to Bristol what L.S. Lowry was to Salford. His was a unique artistic talent, a Member of the Royal West of England Academy (RWA), whose instantly recognisable paintings of Bristol, his beloved home city, could be found in the private collections of David Bowie, the Marquess of Bath, and many others.

Clevedon Salerooms is honoured to have been instructed to sell the residual studio of Barrington Tabb. The first group of paintings will be offered in the Summer Fine Art sale on Thursday June 5th with further works being offered in subsequent sales.

Born into a working-class family, Tabb lived his whole life in and around the Bristol area. A chance meeting with a French artist who was painting a view of Christmas Steps when Tabb was thirteen was enough to convince the young boy that art was where his future lay but the realities of life intervened and he went on to become an engineering inspector in a bus factory, his artistic ambitions taking a back seat. He began painting in his spare time, developing his distinctive style largely without formal training, allowing his creative voice to flourish freely over the years.

In Tabb’s hands, thickly encrusted strokes of oil paint capture scenes of everyday life in Bristol’s streets, railway sidings, pubs and parks. Strongly influenced by French Post-Impressionism and Primitivism, Tabb’s portrayal of Bristol’s urban landscape is more than mere topography, each scene is imbued with emotional depth and a powerful sense of place; less about how the city looks than how it feels.

Barrington Tabb remains a significant part of the city’s artistic heritage. His legacy continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike, reflecting a true mastery of capturing the spirit of place through his unique, self-taught vision.

For further information, details of the preview viewing and sale, please contact Chris Yeo cy@clevedonsalerooms.com or Henry Michallat hm@clevedonsalerooms.com