Antiques Roadshow guest 'genuinely gobsmacked'

An Antiques Roadshow guest was completely 'gobsmacked' after discovering the hefty five-figure valuation of her artwork during Sunday's episode. 

As the hit BBC show headed to Cromford Mills in Derbyshire, expert Frances Christie was very interested in some intriguing pieces or art painted by Richard Eunich. 

Frances told viewers: 'So we're in the middle of Derbyshire but these two paintings really transport us miles away.

'You can see they're both signed Richard Eurich who is one of my favourite artists so I'm really excited that these showed up today.

She explained: 'He's quite unique; he didn't align himself with any particular group of artists and his vision of the world, which is evident in both of these pictures, is absolutely timeless.'

Describing how she came to own the paintings, the show's guest explained: 'My great-aunt and her husband I think were early friends and patrons of Richard's and bought these quite early on in his career, I imagine to support him as an artist.'

Despite his self-doubt that he 'wasn't actually that good at life drawing', Eurich dedicated himself to his craft and ultimately became 'become the most incredible draughtsman', according to Christie.

The expert continued: 'Apparently it was a chance meeting with another one of my favourite artists Christopher Wood and Kit Wood apparently said to him "just paint what you love" and what Eurich loved was boats.

'It's a wonderful three-masted sailing ship and when you look closely, the detail is absolutely phenomenal.

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'He spent so much time making sure all the rigging, the way the mast has been put together, the way the sails are shaped.

'If you look along the foreground, there's a sort of fishing net pinned to the quayside and how he's done the title and the signature, as if it's a poster on the side of that shed.'

Shifting focus to Eurich's second artwork, Frances revealed: 'I don't know whether you know but this was from his very first exhibition of oil paintings.'

The guest then excitedly shared: 'I only discovered that reading up about him and it's very exciting to think that they bought it from the exhibition as you would, knowing a friend at the beginning of his art career.' 

'It's a lovely idea that they invested quite a lot of money I think, I believe this one sold for 18 guineas which is quite a lot for a friend who you think has a bit of talent.'

And while the painting sold for 18 guineas, the equivalent of £19 in today's money, Frances left the guest in shock as she estimated that if the paintings were to come up at auction the boat picture could go for £10,000 to £15,000.

'Wow' exclaimed the guest, as Frances blew her away once more as she suggested the other would go for £15,000 to £20,000. 

She concluded: 'So for both of them together, you're looking at around £25,000 to £35,000.'

Rendered almost speechless the guest said: 'I am really genuinely gobsmacked by that. I shall treat them with care'

Deciding not to sell them just yet she explained: 'My feeling's that I'd quite like them to end up in a gallery where everyone can enjoy them but I might hang onto them for a little while.'