Modern Art by LS Lowry to raise £5m - 02/08/2010

A collection of modern art by LS Lowry is expected to raise £5 million when it goes on sale in November.

Some 21 works by the famous British artist (1887-1976) will be offered for sale from the private collection of Selwyn Demmy.

Said by auction house Christie's to illustrate the "breadth and depth" of the artist's oeuvre, the collection features drawings and paintings from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Included are his industrial cityscapes, landscapes, seascapes and architectural imaginings. The highlight of the show is The Playground, 1945, which is expected to fetch between £500,000 and £700,000.

Mr Demmy said: "For me, the works of Lowry have a very powerful personal resonance as they capture the heart and soul of the people and landscape which I have loved and lived in all my life.

"This collection of 21 paintings and drawings has brought me huge pleasure over the years."

Hailing from Lancashire, Lowry drew inspiration for his compositions of industrial life from Salford and surrounding areas such as Pendlebury.