Castlegate House Gallery

Castlegate House Gallery Castlegate House Gallery exhibits the best of 20th Century and Contemporary British art and studio ceramics, all within a stunning Georgian House setting

Just in, our latest acquisition, Standing Models from 1948 by the late Dorothy Mead. Dorothy Mead studied under the vene...
02/06/2026

Just in, our latest acquisition, Standing Models from 1948 by the late Dorothy Mead.

Dorothy Mead studied under the venerable David Bromberg and was a founder member of the Borough Group. A painting created during her time of study at the Borough Polytechnic, it shares much with works of the time by Bomberg and other group members such as Cliff Holden, Miles Richmond and Dennis Creffield.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/dorothy-mead/standing-models-1948/

29/05/2026

I know this is a “marmite” painting, but for me it’s truly beautiful. Painted circa 1958 by a young Ken Howard (RA), a time when he was still signing his name J K Howard, it’s a sublime portrait of a woman who just exudes the fortitude and strength of a generation who lived and worked as adults during the war years.

The composition, painted looking down at the sitter, creates both visual interest (something also a tendency of Carel Weight (RA) ) but also allows us to see more of the surrounding room; the tapestry, the chair behind… I understand why some may walk past this, failing to see the qualities, but for me it’s a wonderful 50s portrait with a strength and beauty all of its own.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/ken-howard-ra/lady-in-a-red-dress-circa-1958/

Acquired and arriving at Castlegate this week. Frank Auerbach’s Reclining Figure 1 dates to 1966 and is a vibrant screen...
26/05/2026

Acquired and arriving at Castlegate this week. Frank Auerbach’s Reclining Figure 1 dates to 1966 and is a vibrant screenprint from a series of seventy, this being number forty. Signed and numbered by the artist, this is only the second example we’ve personally come across in the last fifteen years, the prior one finding its new home in 2017. An example of this edition is held by Tate and can be viewed online.

The printed image measures 57 x 78 cm (paper-entire 89 x 101 cm) and has just been listed online, priced at £6,000, framed.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/frank-auerbach/reclining-figure-1-1966/

This should definitely be worth a visit for all fans of the work of the late Norman Cornish (MBE); the third exhibition ...
23/05/2026

This should definitely be worth a visit for all fans of the work of the late Norman Cornish (MBE); the third exhibition of works by the artist at the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle in the last six years, this time a focus on his working methods, from preparatory sketches through to the finished drawings or paintings.

We’ve represented the estate of Norman Cornish for eleven years now, encompassing four exhibitions and many works into the gallery between. Gosh, the time has flown by. All available works by Norman Cornish at Castlegate House may be seen here

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/norman-cornish/

Take a look at the two images. Both are of our 1961 Sheila Fell (RA) Haystacks in Winter large oil, but the first now si...
22/05/2026

Take a look at the two images. Both are of our 1961 Sheila Fell (RA) Haystacks in Winter large oil, but the first now sitting only in its original 1961 frame, the second is how we acquired it, with that frame over-framed with a modern moulding. It bothered me that the modern addition created too much orange tone from painting to frame, broken up by the visual of the original thin frame in an oak colour that fought against the new.

I think the simplicity of the 1961 appearance is by far the better of the two options, but happy to canvas other opinions!

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/sheila-fell-ra-frsa/

Just delivered and now living its new life in a wonderful collection in Surrey, this 1930 painting by Winifred Nicholson...
19/05/2026

Just delivered and now living its new life in a wonderful collection in Surrey, this 1930 painting by Winifred Nicholson of her infant daughter Kate, in the arms of Cissy Nobel, Kate’s nanny. This was one of a small number of similar works painted by Winifred on her and then-husband Ben’s journey to France for his Paris exhibition.

We’ve just reacquired this 1958 charcoal by the late Sheila Fell (RA) from the private collection we placed it in severa...
14/05/2026

We’ve just reacquired this 1958 charcoal by the late Sheila Fell (RA) from the private collection we placed it in several years ago. For most of its life prior it was in the collection of William Sumpton, friend of the artist, and he leant Woman in Snow, Aspatria to the 1990/91 major touring retrospective exhibition which included The Royal Academy of Arts.

The black skeletal trees, the snow covered low-slung cottage roofs, the long-faced figures, often hooded; it couldn’t be any other era of Fell than the mid to late 1950s.

Of good size, 56 x 76 cm and tomorrow off for some framing improvements.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/sheila-fell-ra-frsa/woman-in-snow-aspatria-1958/

Yes, it’s true, it’s all about me (as my family will attest to)! This month’s Cumbria Life introduces bi-monthly ramblin...
11/05/2026

Yes, it’s true, it’s all about me (as my family will attest to)! This month’s Cumbria Life introduces bi-monthly ramblings from yours truly; 1,000 words or so of Castlegate adventures, thoughts and opinions. Damn it, I’m going to need an agent! 😀

The Chip Shop on the Corner, c. 1975 by the late Norman Cornish MBE, found a new home this week, off to the sunny climes...
09/05/2026

The Chip Shop on the Corner, c. 1975 by the late Norman Cornish MBE, found a new home this week, off to the sunny climes of West Yorkshire.

The vast majority of our Cornish works come directly from the artist’s estate, which we’ve represented since 2015, but this we acquired from a private Newcastle collection. It’s something we sometimes do, where the work is of very good quality and where we know similar no longer remains within the estate, as in this case.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/norman-cornish/

We came across this on our art-travels this week, and acquired it for our affordable Mid Century Modern Alternatives sel...
02/05/2026

We came across this on our art-travels this week, and acquired it for our affordable Mid Century Modern Alternatives selection. Yellow Composition is by Hertfordshire artist Nina Ross and dates circa 1965; it couldn’t be more 60s if it tried.

It looks like for years it had been hung in portrait orientation, so we’re happy to restore it to its correct vista. To me it appears a semi-abstract take on a still life, but we see what we see….

Nina Ross
Oil on board
39.5 x 61 cm
£1,250

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/mid-century-modern-alternatives/

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Castlegate House
Cockermouth
CA139HA

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5am

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+441900822149

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