The Vona Reynolds Collection: A Quietly Remarkable Kentish Gift

The Vona Reynolds Collection: A Quietly Remarkable Kentish Gift

In 2015, something quietly generous took place in Cranbrook. Vona Reynolds, wife of the acclaimed British abstract artist Alan Reynolds RA (1926–2014), donated a curated selection of modern and contemporary artworks to Angley School in Cranbrook, Kent (latterly known as High Weald Academy). It was a gesture rooted in a belief that young people in Kent should have access to real, meaningful art in their everyday surroundings.

Now, ten years on, with the school no longer in operation, the collection has been consigned to Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd, based in Chislehurst, Kent. It will be offered in the Interiors & Fine Art Auction on 15th October 2025, held at our Chislehurst saleroom.

At the heart of the collection are two standout pieces by Alan Reynolds himself—who lived and worked in Kent and remains a key figure in post-war British abstraction. Bergamasque II (Maquette), a painted card relief from the early 1970s, and Blue Structure (1976), a signed linocut artist’s proof, demonstrate the elegant geometrical precision of Reynolds’ later work.

Surrounding these are a varied group of works by well-known and lesser-seen names from across Britain and Europe. Highlights include a limited-edition lithograph by Jean (Hans) Arp, a vivid print by Sonia Delaunay (La Ronde, 1937–70), and a bold Max Ernst exhibition poster from 1974. An original etching by Ossip Zadkine—Le Beau Cordier (1962)—reflects his sculptural sensibility through line and form, captured here in print.

Kent’s own artistic community is also represented in the collection, notably through the inclusion of Christine Jeffryes’ Trees (1976), a crisp wood engraving, and a dynamic woven textile work by Yvonne Marsh (1977). These tactile, personal pieces speak to a more intimate, craft-oriented approach to artmaking that complements the broader modernist themes of the group.

Additional works include a bold 1971 woodcut by British-born Alan Weatherley, a print after Victor Pasmore, and a torn-paper collage lithograph attributed to Nicolas de Staël, bringing further aesthetic diversity to the selection.

 

As we prepare to bring the Vona Reynolds Collection to market later this on 15^th October, the sale offers collectors and institutions alike the opportunity to acquire works of genuine artistic interest with strong educational provenance. Quietly assembled and purposefully shared, this is a collection ready for its next chapter.

This group of 13 artworks has been consigned to Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers Ltd by Leigh Academies Trust, a non-profit educational organisation headquartered in Strood, Medway. The Trust supports 34 schools across Kent, Medway, and Southeast London, serving more than 20,000 students aged between 2 months and 19 years. Formed in 2008, Leigh Academies Trust supports schools in achieving rapid educational transformation while building on their individual strengths. The proceeds of the sale will be reinvested to support the Trust’s ongoing educational work.

 

List of artworks with estimates:

 

Alan Reynolds RA (British, 1926-2014)

Original card relief titled 'Bergamasque II (Maquette)' c.1971-1972

Estimate £500-£700

 

Alan Reynolds RA (British, 1926-2014)

Artist's proof linocut titled 'Blue Structure', 1976

Estimate £400-£600

 

Joan Miró (Spanish, 1893-1983) 

Lithographic reproduction poster based on his painting 'The Harlequin's Carnival' c.1924-25.

Estimate £40-£60

 

Sheila Flinn (British, b. 1929)

Linocut titled 'Tortoises'

Estimate £100-£150

 

Ossip Zadkine (French-Russian, 1888-1967)

Etching titled 'Le Beau Cordier' 1962

Estimate £100-£150

 

Max Ernst (German, 1891-1976)

Original exhibition poster, 1974

Estimate £50-80

 

Jean (Hans) Arp (German-French, 1886-1966)

Limited edition lithograph titled ‘Yellow Form on Black Circle’

Estimate £150-£250

 

Attributed to Nicolas de Staël (French, 1914-1955)

Lithographic print:  Torn-paper collage on blue ground.

Estimate £150-£250

 

Alan Weatherley (American, British b. 1949)

Artist's proof woodcut, Untitled, 1971

Estimate £50-£80

 

Sonia Delaunay (French, 1885-1979)

Limited edition lithograph titled ‘La Ronde’, 1937-70

Estimate £200-£300

 

 

Christine Jeffryes (Contemporary British)

'Trees' 1976

Artist's proof wood engraving titled ‘Trees’ 1976

Estimate £50-£80

 

Yvonne Marsh (British, b.1951)

Tapestry weave, Untitled, 1977

Estimate £50-80

 

After Victor Pasmore (British, 1908-1998) 

Black and ochre on brown paper, 1973

Estimate £80-£120