McTear's featuring Muriel Barclay

With McTear's April auctions coming up soon that feature some fantastic examples of Muriel Barclay’s work, we thought it would be a good idea to learn a bit more about her and her painting.

Growing up locally in Glasgow’s West End, Muriel started off at Edinburgh University where she went on to move down to London and work at Jaques O’Hana’s Gallery. On her return to Glasgow, Muriel studied Drawing and Painting at Glasgow School of Art and History of Fine Art, alongside teaching history and raising her three sons. In 2001 she finally left her textbooks and picked up her paintbrush to become a full time painter after encouragement from various Art Institutes.

Muriel paints with an extremely individualised style, influenced by her study of the history of art and culture. She is one of Scotland's best figurative artists who paints with an almost poetic style, capturing the image of her paintings exquisitely. Her work contains collections from portraits to horses, and from ballet dancers to flamenco dancers, all uniquely beautiful and quirky. Muriel has had her work exhibited at some of the best galleries including Thompson's Gallery (London) and Contemporary Fine Art Gallery (Eton) and currently has her solo show at The Lemond Gallery in Glasgow, which showcases some of the best examples of Scottish Contemporary Art.

McTear's are extremely lucky to be auctioning some of her fabulous work and in 2008 'Pink Tutu Tune' sold for £7645*, which was the highest price to be achieved at auction for a maiden painting in a public auction by any living Scottish artist.

The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on Sunday 13th April includes some superb examples of Muriel’s work with estimates ranging from £400 to £4000.


Lot 1781: 'Finding Chord' Estimate: £3000 - £5000


Lot 1784: 'Pink Passage' Estimate: £400 - £600

With the success of her previous paintings, we cannot wait to see how Muriel's artwork does at our upcoming Scottish Contemporary Art Auction on the 13th of April.

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London Olympic Silver Medal Auctioning at McTear's

As Team GB grabs Gold in Russia, McTear’s have a rare Olympic medal on auction from the 1908 London Olympics.

McTear’s are auctioning this medal which was awarded to a member of the Scots crew of the 12 metre yacht race, Hera which took place on a unique race on the Clyde out of Hunters Quay, Dunoon.

It is extremely rare to find any Olympic winners medal coming to auction, let alone one from more than 100 years ago and as such we expect to see considerable interest from collectors and sporting fans from home and overseas.

1908 Silver Olympic Medal

The solid silver medal is estimated between £3,000 and £5,000 and is sure to be a popular bid in our auction on Tuesday 4th March, stay tuned! Read more here.

Secret Kray Orders to Go Under The Hammer

20 page document of rare criminal letters

Rare letters from two of the world’s most notorious criminals will form the macabre centrepiece of a Glasgow auction later this month.

The letters from the late East End London gangster, Reg Kray, and American cult leader and convicted murderer, Charles Manson, are expected to sell for hundreds of pounds when they go under the hammer at McTear’s Auctioneers on 16th August. 

Both items have been put up for sale by the internationally renowned ‘murderabilia’ collector and true crime author, Steven F. Scouller, with the letter from Reg Kray giving a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the infamous Kray twins.

The 20 page document is a diary of ideas and orders for ‘Kray Firm’ gang members to carry out and is written in code to deter detection by authorities.  In the letter Kray states: “Go to work for the fee.  I’m so proud of all you’ve achieved,” and is signed off at the bottom with “Take care, God bless, affection, yours Reg.”

Kray also makes numerous references to ‘Karl’ who was an associate on the outside.  Karl was muscle for hire who would do the twins’ bidding and the letter cryptically says: “31^st July at your place Karl will tell him to cook up. Talk later of him.”

In the Charles Manson letter, the infamous cult leader rambles almost incoherently about his relationship with ‘Manson Family’ members. 

In the bizarre document, Manson states: “It can be used as the people in the so-called Family used me; by giving me their problems…all I did was give them the answers … You see them singing my music and dancing my motions.  That’s how I’ve survived all my life by staying on top of my end.”

Commenting on the sale, Steven F. Scouller, said: “Murderabilia is the name given to items that were once owned or created by notorious criminals.  I believe that letters by such people as Charles Manson and Reg Kray should be preserved so future generations can study them in a bid to help understand the terrible decisions these criminals made.”

Brian Clements, Managing Director at McTear’s, added: “These are very unusual items that give an insight into the minds of two of the world’s most notorious criminals.  It is rare to find detailed letters like these coming to auction and I expect there will be considerable interest in the sale.” 

The auction will take place on Thursday 16^th August at 6pm at McTear’s Auctioneers, Meiklewood Gate, Glasgow.