Noted Dorset artist’s work up for auction

All the pictures are by Ron Jesty (1926-2016), who was born in Weymouth. He trained to be a draughtsman and a graphic designer and worked in that field for over 30 years, producing neatly drawn and finely coloured designs for advertising and exhibitions. Jesty pursued painting in watercolour as a hobby but took it up full time in 1978 at the age of 52, becoming a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1982, and he worked principally in Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall as well as making occasional trips to Scotland.

A regular exhibitor at the Royal West of England and occasionally at the Royal Academy and Royal Watercolour Society too, Jesty also showed his work in many one man shows in the West Country.

“Jesty’s work shows that he was a fine technician in this demanding medium but also that he was able to marry his draughtsman’s eye with a truly artistic understanding of all his various subjects,” says Richard Kay, Lawrences’ specialist.

The selection on offer comprises 25 lots, including impressive individual framed works as well as appealing folios of unframed sketches. One lot even contains sketches, his easel, a pot of his brushes and a wad of press cuttings (£100-200). The sale is on 20 January.