Cecil Beaton Works on Paper: Value & Auction Prices

1904–1980

ArtSell has recorded 88 auction results for Cecil Beaton works on paper between 2011 and 2026, and 87 of them sold (99%). Across 87 sales with a published price, the typical result was $745Sign up free to see to $2.9kSign up free to see (median $1.4kSign up free to see). The auction record in our data is Katharine Hepburn as Coco Chanel, sold at Bonhams in October 2024 for $20.5kSign up free to see. Sales were recorded mainly at Bonhams (63), Woolley & Wallis (6) and Toovey's (5).

Price chart & statistics for Cecil Beaton →

All works on paper results

1. 
   A preliminary sketch for Lady Windermere's Fan, 1945-46

   Drawing

   27.5 x 20cm (10 13/16 x 7 7/8in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 9
   £410≈ $553≈ €486Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £400–600View at Bonhams ↗
2. 
   A costume design for the Ballroom Scene in Lady Windermere's Fan, 1945-46

   Drawing

   27.75 x 20.25cm (10 15/16 x 8in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 8
   £538≈ $726≈ €637Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £500–700View at Bonhams ↗
3. 
   A costume design for Isabel Jeans as 'Mrs Erlynne' in Lady Windermere's Fan, 1945-1946

   Watercolor

   40 x 26.75cm (15 3/4 x 10 9/16in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 7
   £512≈ $691≈ €607Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £400–600View at Bonhams ↗
4. 
   A costume design for Dorothy Dickson as 'Lady Grayston' in Our Betters, Playhouse, circa 1945-46

   Watercolor

   40 x 27cm (15 3/4 x 10 5/8in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 6
   £2,816≈ $3,801≈ €3,338Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
5. 
   A costume design for Edith Evans as 'Hesione Hushaby' in Heartbreak House, 1943

   Watercolor

   34.5 x 20cm (13 9/16 x 7 7/8in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 5
   £1,088≈ $1,468≈ €1,290Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
6. 
   Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), 1937

   Watercolor

   50.25 x 44.25cm (19 13/16 x 17 7/16in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 4
   £3,840≈ $5,183≈ €4,552Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
7. 
   A programme cover design for Apparitions, 1936

   Drawing

   39.5 x 27.5cm (15 9/16 x 10 13/16in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 3
   £1,536≈ $2,073≈ €1,821Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
8. 
   A costume design for The First Shoot from the Revue Follow the Sun, 1936

   Watercolor · Board

   47 x 35.25cm (18 1/2 x 13 7/8in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 2
   £1,664≈ $2,246≈ €1,973Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £600–800View at Bonhams ↗
9. 
   A design for Midas, circa 1922-23

   Watercolor

   51 x 39.25cm (20 1/16 x 15 7/16in).

   Bonhams · Jun 3, 2025 · Lot 1
   £640≈ $864≈ €759Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
10. 
    Lady wearing a hat in a wheatfield

    Watercolor

    38.5 x 34cm

    Dreweatts · Apr 16, 2025 · Lot 231
    £400≈ $530≈ €467HammerSign up free to seeEst. £300–500View at Dreweatts ↗
11. 
    Lady wearing a white gold and yellow dress

    Watercolor

    32.5 x 26.5cm

    Dreweatts · Apr 16, 2025 · Lot 230
    £550≈ $729≈ €642HammerSign up free to seeEst. £500–700View at Dreweatts ↗
12. 
    Maid in blue

    Watercolor

    36 x 26.5cm

    Dreweatts · Apr 16, 2025 · Lot 229
    £260≈ $345≈ €304HammerSign up free to seeEst. £200–400View at Dreweatts ↗
13. 
    Costume for Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde, Phoenix Theatre, London 1966 with Coral Browne

    Drawing

    48 x 34cm (18 7/8 x 13 3/8in).

    Bonhams · Apr 15, 2025 · Lot 63
    £1,152≈ $1,525≈ €1,346Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
14. 
    Portait of a gentleman

    Drawing

    34 x 27cm

    Dreweatts · Mar 6, 2025 · Lot 310
    £220≈ $283≈ €263HammerSign up free to seeEst. £200–400View at Dreweatts ↗
15. 
    COSTUME STUDIES

    Watercolor · Paper

    37cm x 30cm (14.6in x 11.75in)

    Lyon & Turnbull · Feb 11, 2025 · Lot 84
    £529≈ $655≈ €635Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £300–500View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
16. 
    Headdress for Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle at the Ball, from My Fair Lady, 1962

    Gouache · Paper

    15 x 10 in. (38.1 x 25.4 cm)

    Bonhams · Oct 24, 2024 · Lot 256
    $7,040≈ £5,424≈ €6,518Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $3,000–5,000View at Bonhams ↗
17. 
    Room Study (Possibly from Coco)

    Gouache · Paper

    approximately 12 x 16 in. (30.5 x 40.6 cm)

    Bonhams · Oct 24, 2024 · Lot 255
    $1,152≈ £888≈ €1,067Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
18. 
    Katharine Hepburn as Coco Chanel, 1969

    Watercolor · Paper

    25 1/2 x 19 3/4 in. (64.8 x 50.2 cm)

    Bonhams · Oct 24, 2024 · Lot 254
    $20,480≈ £15,778≈ €18,961Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $4,000–6,000View at Bonhams ↗
19. 
    Portrait of Janet Gaynor

    Mixed media · Paper

    approximately 18 x 15 in. (45.7 x 38.1 cm)

    Bonhams · Oct 24, 2024 · Lot 253
    $9,600≈ £7,396≈ €8,888Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $2,000–3,000View at Bonhams ↗
20. 
    Serge Lifar

    Watercolor · Paper

    34 by 29,5cm excluding frame; 52 by 47 by 1cm including frame

    Strauss & Co · Oct 22, 2024 · Lot 142
    ZAR 25,795≈ $1,468≈ £1,130≈ €1,356Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. ZAR 9,000–12,000View at Strauss & Co ↗
21. 
    The Duchess of Malfi, 1924

    Watercolor · Paper

    24 by 31cm excluding frame; 42,5 by 49 by 1cm including frame

    Strauss & Co · Oct 22, 2024 · Lot 122
    ZAR 16,415≈ $934≈ £719≈ €863Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. ZAR 9,000–12,000View at Strauss & Co ↗
22. 
    Portrait of Clifton Webb

    Watercolor · Paper

    14 1/2 x 12 1/2 in

    Rachel Davis Fine Arts · Sep 21, 2024 · Lot 13
    Result not publishedEst. $500–800View at Rachel Davis Fine Arts ↗
23. 
    Portrait Studies With studio sale stamp

    Drawing · Paper

    30 x 19.5cm

    Woolley & Wallis · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 78
    £80≈ $102≈ €94HammerSign up free to seeView at Woolley & Wallis ↗
24. 
    Necklines Inscribed Necklines

    Watercolor

    36 x 23.6cm

    Woolley & Wallis · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 77
    £350≈ $447≈ €412HammerSign up free to seeView at Woolley & Wallis ↗
25. 
    Portrait of Jessie Suarez

    Watercolor

    46.5 x 34cm

    Woolley & Wallis · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 80
    £2,200≈ $2,812≈ €2,587HammerSign up free to seeView at Woolley & Wallis ↗
26. 
    Ten costume studies for the play Quadrille by Noel Coward Three

    Drawing

    50 x 37cm

    Woolley & Wallis · Jun 5, 2024 · Lot 79
    £500≈ $639≈ €588HammerSign up free to seeView at Woolley & Wallis ↗
27. 
    A study of a costume design for Katharine Hepburn as Gabrielle Chanel for the 1969 Broadway musical Coco

    Watercolor

    35.2 x 27.8cm (13 7/8 x 10 15/16in).

    Bonhams · May 8, 2024 · Lot 52
    £12,800≈ $15,974≈ €14,870Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Bonhams ↗
28. 
    A portrait of the Duchess of Windsor

    Watercolor · Paper

    51 x 18.5cm (20 1/16 x 7 5/16in).

    Bonhams · May 8, 2024 · Lot 49
    £13,440≈ $16,773≈ €15,613Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £10,000–15,000View at Bonhams ↗
29. 
    Beaton

    Watercolor

    33.9 x 37.3cm

    Woolley & Wallis · Apr 17, 2024 · Lot 686
    £1,800≈ $2,242≈ €2,108HammerSign up free to seeView at Woolley & Wallis ↗
30. 
    Still Life

    Watercolor · Paper

    20⅛ h x 15⅛ w in (51 x 38 cm)

    Toomey & Co. · Feb 15, 2024 · Lot 123
    $2,772≈ £2,210≈ €2,580Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $800–View at Toomey & Co. ↗
31. 
    Sargent's Madame X

    Drawing · Paper

    sheet size 35.5 x 28.0 cm (14 x 11 in).

    Bonhams · Feb 7, 2024 · Lot 158
    $6,400≈ £5,066≈ €5,939Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–1,500View at Bonhams ↗
32. 
    Rose and lavender Signed BEATON

    Watercolor

    46.4 x 75.8cm

    Woolley & Wallis · Dec 13, 2023 · Lot 171
    £2,800≈ $3,507≈ €3,251HammerSign up free to seeView at Woolley & Wallis ↗
33. 
    Design for 'My Fair Lady

    Drawing

    28.5cm x 19.5cm

    Toovey's · Feb 15, 2023 · Lot 42
    £130≈ $157≈ €146HammerSign up free to seeView at Toovey's ↗
34. 
    Untitled

    Watercolor

    Sworders · Nov 21, 2021 · Lot 100
    £5,100≈ $6,849≈ €6,076HammerSign up free to seeEst. £800–1,200View at Sworders ↗
35. 
    Coco Channel, 1965

    Foto pb (vintage em sépia) sobre papel · Paper

    19 x 19 cm

    James Lisboa · Sep 24, 2020 · Lot 553
    Result not publishedView at James Lisboa ↗
36. 
    La Traviata

    Watercolor

    12" high x 14" wide

    Clarke Auction Gallery · Nov 24, 2019 · Lot 31
    $600≈ £466≈ €543HammerSign up free to seeEst. $600–900View at Clarke Auction Gallery ↗
37. 
    Lord Nelson

    Watercolor

    PIASA · Mar 28, 2017
    €1,300≈ $1,412≈ £1,124Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €1,000–2,000View at PIASA ↗
38. 
    Half Length Portrait of a Lady

    Drawing

    47.5cm x 38.5cm

    Toovey's · Jun 18, 2014 · Lot 7
    £650≈ $1,101≈ €812HammerSign up free to seeView at Toovey's ↗
39. 
    Head Study of a Lady, pen

    Drawing

    30cm x 22.5cm

    Toovey's · Jun 12, 2013 · Lot 89
    £300≈ $470≈ €354HammerSign up free to seeView at Toovey's ↗
40. 
    Half Length Portrait of a Lady

    Drawing

    47.5cm x 38.5cm

    Toovey's · Jun 12, 2013 · Lot 82
    £360≈ $563≈ €424HammerSign up free to seeView at Toovey's ↗
41. 
    Head and Shoulders Portrait of a Fashion Model wearing a Hat

    Pastel

    50cm x 35cm

    Toovey's · Nov 30, 2011 · Lot 33
    £550≈ $862≈ €643HammerSign up free to seeView at Toovey's ↗
42. 
    Betty Dorso, c. 1940-50

    Drawing · Paper

    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · Oct 9, 2011 · Lot 155
    $1,960≈ £1,253≈ €1,442Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗

Other media by Cecil Beaton

PaintingsPrintsPhotographsOil PaintingsWatercolorsGouachesDrawings

All Cecil Beaton auction results →