Peter Howson works raise £200,000

Works by artist Peter Howson, including 10 original drawings of David Bowie, have sold at auction for more than £200,000.

Peter Howson's works raised more than £200,000 for the care of his daughter. Picture: Jane Barlow

A total of 390 paintings, drawings and sketches belonging to Terry Howson, the former wife of the Scottish artist, have been sold in Glasgow.

The sale of the largest single collection of works by Peter Howson took place on Sunday at McTear’s Auctioneers and raised a total of £202,000.

One of the Bowie drawings sold for £9,500 - almost five times the estimate - and the 10 works featuring the pop icon collectively made £35,000.

Peter Howson produced the drawings in 1994 when Bowie posed for him at his London studio.

Controversial

They became friends after Bowie bought two controversial paintings of the Bosnian war by the artist.

Peter Howson said: “There were only 10 Bowie drawings and I gave them all to Terry. None have ever been sold before.”

Remembering back to when he drew the musician, he said: “I had him sitting quite high, on a 5ft plinth, and at one point he seemed to doze off and fell to the floor. We had a laugh about it, he’s a very charismatic character and we’ve kept in touch from time to time ever since.”

Terry Howson decided to sell her ex-husband’s artworks to raise money for the care of their daughter Lucie who has Asperger syndrome.

“It was difficult to part with a lot of these paintings but the time had come to let others enjoy them,” said Ms Howson.

She added: “Over the years I have built up quite a collection of Peter’s art which demonstrates a real mix of his work but Lucie’s welfare and future is the most important thing.

Talented

“I didn’t sell my entire collection and I’ve held back quite a lot of Peter’s work which I hope to hang on to.”

Brian Clements, from the auctioneers McTear’s, said the sale attracted international attention with bids received from all over the world and the auction house was packed with hundreds of people.

“Peter Howson is one of Britain’s most talented and celebrated artists and Terry’s collection includes an incredible variety of his work over the last 40 years.

“I am delighted that so many people have been able to purchase a work by this fantastic artist and in the process raise funds to help look after Terry and Peter’s daughter Lucie,” he said.