Art sale boosted by royal interest

INTEREST in an auction of artwork by one of the late Queen Mother's favourite artists has risen – after the Scots-born painter died earlier this year.

Collecters have flooded McTear's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers after it was revealed that 23 works by the acclaimed James Downie Robertson – who died at the age of 78 in January – would go under the hammer.

The death of Fife-born Robertson, who was a favourite artist of both the Queen Mother and the Duke of Edinburgh, has heightened interest in his work, and the auctioneer said it had seen an upsurge in inquiries ahead of the sale on Tuesday.