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Ruskin Spear

British · 1911–1990 · Painter

Ruskin Spear, CBE, RA was an English painter and teacher of art, regarded as one of the foremost British portrait painters of his day. He is the father of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah… (Wikipedia)

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33auction results2013–2026years recorded100%sold (33)$1.6kSign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. Ruskin Spear, Strawberry Mousse, circa 1959, oil on boardStrawberry MousseSworders · £32,000≈ $42,374≈ €36,854Sign up to see
  2. Ruskin Spear, Untitled, oil on canvas with collage 98.5 x 68cm Provenance: Sotheby'sUntitledSworders · £28,000≈ $37,313≈ €33,658Sign up to see
  3. Ruskin Spear, Untitled, oil on board 89 x 91cm Provenance: Christie'sUntitledSworders · £14,000≈ $18,656≈ €16,829Sign up to see

Ruskin Spear’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

ArtSell has recorded 33 auction results for Ruskin Spear between 2013 and 2026, of which 33 sold (100%). Recorded sale prices range from $67Sign up free to see to $42.4kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $42.4kSign up free to see for Strawberry Mousse at Sworders in March 2026. The most common medium is oil paintings (20 lots). Most results come from Sworders (28), Toovey's (1) and Leonard Joel (1).

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33 results

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  1. Ruskin Spear, The Life Class, oil on board
    The Life Class
    Oil · Board
    54 x 43cm; framed 68 x 56cm
    Sworders · · Lot 20
    £950≈ $1,262≈ €1,110HammerSign up free to seeEst. £500–800View at Sworders ↗
  2. Ruskin Spear, A collection of prints, together with: 'A Thin Edge' lithograph in colours
    A collection of prints
    Lithograph · ed. 103/140
    sheets 75 x 99cm and 95 x 75cm, unframed, and similar sizes
    Sworders · · Lot 21
    £150≈ $199≈ €175HammerSign up free to seeEst. £300–500View at Sworders ↗
  3. Ruskin Spear, Sleeping Cat, pencil
    Sleeping Cat
    Drawing
    14.5cm x 22.5cm
    Chorley's · · Lot 76
    £280≈ $377≈ €324HammerSign up free to seeEst. £300–500View at Chorley's ↗
  4. Ruskin Spear, Nude female torso, pencil
    Nude female torso
    Drawing
    19.5cm x 13.5cm
    Toovey's · · Lot 247
    £50≈ $68≈ €58HammerSign up free to seeView at Toovey's ↗
  5. Ruskin Spear, Strawberry Mousse, circa 1959, oil on board
    Strawberry Mousse, circa 1959
    Oil · Board
    107 x 97cm; framed 129 x 118cm
    Sworders · · Lot 6
    £32,000≈ $42,374≈ €36,854HammerSign up free to seeEst. £8,000–12,000View at Sworders ↗
  6. Ruskin Spear, CORNISH LANDSCAPE, c.1944, oil on board
    CORNISH LANDSCAPE, c.1944
    Oil · Board
    26cm x 37cm (10 ¼in x 14 ½in)
    Lyon & Turnbull · · Lot 150
    £1,134≈ $1,488≈ €1,289Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. £1,000–1,500View at Lyon & Turnbull ↗
  7. Ruskin Spear, Untitled, oil on board 81.5 x 76cm Exhibited: Royal Academy Exhibition 1985
    Untitled
    Oil · Board
    Sworders · · Lot 94
    £3,800≈ $5,094≈ €4,366HammerSign up free to seeEst. £3,000–5,000View at Sworders ↗
  8. Ruskin Spear, Untitled, oil on board 47 x 61cm Provenance: Sotheby's
    Untitled
    Oil · Board
    Sworders · · Lot 297
    £3,800≈ $5,029≈ €4,441HammerSign up free to seeEst. £4,000–6,000View at Sworders ↗
  9. Ruskin Spear, Untitled, oil on board 24.5 x 35cm
    Untitled
    Oil · Board
    Sworders · · Lot 298
    £900≈ $1,191≈ €1,052HammerSign up free to seeEst. £1,200–1,800View at Sworders ↗
  10. Ruskin Spear, At the snooker table, oil on canvas
    At the snooker table
    Oil · Canvas
    30 x 42 in. (76.3 x 106.8 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 10
    $7,680≈ £6,097≈ €7,361Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $600–800View at Bonhams ↗

Ruskin Spear paintings (20)Ruskin Spear oil paintings (20)Ruskin Spear works on paper (5)Ruskin Spear drawings (3)Ruskin Spear prints (8)Ruskin Spear lithographs (6)

Ruskin Spear: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Ruskin Spear at auction?

$42,374Sign up free to see, for Strawberry Mousse at Sworders (March 2026) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Ruskin Spear?

The median sale price is $1.6kSign up free to see across 33 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Ruskin Spear have sold at auction?

33 of 33 recorded lots sold between 2013 and 2026.

Which auction houses sell Ruskin Spear?

Sworders, Toovey's and Leonard Joel account for the most recorded results. Sworders · Toovey's · Leonard Joel

About Ruskin Spear

Ruskin Spear, CBE, RA was an English painter and teacher of art, regarded as one of the foremost British portrait painters of his day. He is the father of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band member Roger Ruskin Spear.

From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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