A chance to snap up The Streaker!

An important retrospective and auction of the work of prolific ceramicist and painter Lawson Rudge is to take place at Chilcotts Dolphin Sale Room in Honiton on November 12.

This outstanding collection of artwork has many previously unseen works, including a ceramic of the infamous ‘Twickenham Streaker’ of 1974.

Born in 1936, Lawson Rudge trained first at Stourbridge Art College then the Royal College of Art where he was in the same year as David Hockney, who makes an appearance in one of his paintings. After living in various parts of the country, he settled at Frost Cottage in Morchard Bishop where he created a studio.

Although he began his career working with glass, once he went to the Royal College Rudge started painting and experimenting with ceramics. Auctioneer Duncan Chilcott said:

“His trademark Raku-style finish was in fact a happy accident; he had used wet sawdust to quickly cool glass and liking the result he tried the same with ceramics. He says when he discovered the technique he’d not heard of Raku.”

Some of Rudge’s most recognisable pieces are the ‘flat cows’ which became his most commercially successful work, as well as hares, horses and famous figures including HRH Queen Elizabeth and George Stubbs, which he made to show techniques to a group of students at Exeter College of Art where he worked for many years. Amongst his students who found success were potter Laurel Keeley and animal sculptor, Suzie Marsh.

Rudge created The Streaker after seeing the news about Australian Michael O’Brien who raced naked across the pitch at Twickenham at half time during a rugby game between France and England, a story which amused him greatly.

The ‘Lawson Rudge Studio Collection’ includes many works which have never left the house; as well as the Streaker, there are garden sculptures of horses, a variety of flat cows, centaurs, hares - and a ceramic of Morchard Bishop bobby, PC Dangerfield. In all there are 170 ceramics and original paintings available at the auction, which has been requested by the family who are selling Frost Cottage after their father moved to a residential home.

Estimates for the pieces range from £50 up to around £200. The collection can be viewed at Chilcotts on November 5, 9, 10, 11 and prior to the sale which starts at 10am on Saturday November 12.

Ceramics photos by Andrew Butler