Felix Kelly’s Surreal Truro to Be Auctioned

An oil painting depicting a Cornwall town’s landmarks by New Zealand artist Felix Kelly and commissioned by Prince Charles is to go under the hammer.

Auckland-born Kelly, who has exhibited alongside names such as Lucian Freud, features Truro’s cathedral as well as the gasworks.

Kelly was commissioned by the Prince of Wales to paint the royal family’s residence Highgrove House and has painted famous murals for the banqueting hall of the Royal Palace in Kathmandu and Castle Howard, made famous by the 80s television series Bridesmaid Revisited.

His paintings were influenced by the Surrealists. This painting is expected to fetch around £5,000.

Auctioneer Nigel Kirk said: “From the 1950s to the 80s Kelly received many important commissions all around the world and painted some of the grandest country houses in Britain. He was not only a meticulous painter but also a muralist, book illustrator and designer.

“Kelly had no formal art training, but he had a gift for cultivating distinguished friends, many of them members of the English aristocracy, who adored his witty persona at their parties – and his paintings of their houses.”

Kelly died in Devon in 1994.

Original article by West Briton, November 19, 2015.