Forgotten Hampstead artist rediscovered as Muriel Jackson archive sells out

A previously unseen archive of works by overlooked 20th-century British artist Muriel Jackson has achieved a complete sell-out at Cheffins in Cambridge, after being discovered in the basement of the artist’s former Hampstead home.

Comprising of around sixty paintings, drawings and wood engravings, the collection achieved a total of £105,633 and was a ‘white glove’ result for the Cambridge-based auction house. The collection came directly from 20 Well Walk, Hampstead, a house that remained in the Jackson family for almost a century and was a notable centre of artistic and intellectual life in North London, having been visited by artists such as Daphne Charlton, Mary Hill and Eve Littleton.

Among the highlights was The Buckland Caravan, Hampstead  a painting from 1959 which was offered alongside a related wood engraving. It achieved £28,600 against a £1,200 estimate when it sold to a private collector. Similarly, Bygone Bank Holiday, a fairground scene set on Hampstead Heath, achieved £20,800 against an estimate of £700 when it sold to a London-based collector.

The Buckland Caravan, sold for £28,600

Gabrielle Downie, Associate at Cheffins who handled the sale of the archive comments: “The response to Muriel Jackson’s work has been extraordinary and reflects a much wider reassessment of overlooked female artists of the 20th century. Collectors were captivated not only by the quality of the work, but by the remarkable story behind its discovery.

Jackson had an exceptional ability to capture life in and around Hampstead Heath — from fairgrounds and caravans to intimate portraits and street scenes — and this archive reveals the depth of her practice. The prices achieved have firmly established a new benchmark for her work at auction. It is often these archive discoveries which really set a new tone for an artist within the modern market and similarly to the archive Cheffins sold of Tirzah Garwood works last year, we expect Muriel Jackson to now see a reappraisal among the trade.”

The previous record for an original Muriel Jackson work at auction was £250 when a painting sold in Worcestershire in 2020.

Briony Barnett, granddaughter or Muriel Jackson said: “The sale of Muriel Jackson’s archive was an extraordinary moment for us - testament not only to the quality of Muriel’s work but also the expertise of Cheffins in recognising her contribution as a 20th century female artist. We couldn’t be more delighted.”

Muriel Jackson lived and worked in Hampstead throughout her 77-year lifetime and was one of the relatively few female Royal Academicians of her generation, as well as training at the Central School of Arts and Crafts under Noel Rooke and F. Ernest Jackson. A highly skilled wood engraver and printmaker, she built a consistent exhibiting career, showing regularly at the Royal Academy, the New English Art Club and the Contemporary Portrait Society, as well as internationally.

Jackson drew much of her inspiration from Hampstead Heath, particularly the Romani caravans that gathered there during fairs. This subject became a defining thread in her work, reflecting a long-standing engagement with the Romani community. Her 1939 wood engraving Waggons on the Heath, which earned her the Logan Medal in Chicago and international recognition, will be included in the sale with an estimate of £100–£200.

The archive featured portraits, Italian street scenes, views of Hampstead Heath, caravan studies and floral works.

Prices reported are inclusive of Buyers’ Premium and VAT.

Auction: The Art & Design Sale – 21^st May 2026 

Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA

For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, [email protected]