Rise in ‘fakes’ of Sheila Fell art works, says Cockermouth art dealer

Cockermouth’s Castlegate House Gallery is warning art buyers to exercise caution following what it says is a noticeable increase in fake works appearing at auction.

The gallery has said there has been a particular rise in works it says are ‘falsely attributed’ to the late Cumbrian artist Sheila Fell.

The warning comes as part of the gallery’s latest initiative, ‘Fake? No Fortune’, which aims to raise awareness of forged and misattributed works circulating in the British art market.

Over recent months, Castlegate House Gallery has been approached to review and authenticate several works on paper claiming to be by Sheila Fell, who remains one of the region’s most celebrated Modern British artists.

According to gallery owner Steve Swallow, every example seen either in person or online has ‘shown clear signs of being produced by another hand’.

“Over the last year, we’ve seen a raft of works purporting to be by Sheila Fell come up for sale,” said Steve.

“Some are new to the auction rooms, while others first appeared 15 or 20 years ago and are now re-emerging. Without exception, all we’ve examined has tell-tale signs – stylistic, technical, and material that point to them being fakes.

“We were recently contacted by a long-standing Fell collector about three works on paper said to be by the artist, due to come up for auction. We’d seen the same pieces a few years earlier and confirmed they weren’t genuine, yet the attribution remained. 

“Our client had considered bidding up to £5,000 on one of them, which eventually sold for over £3,000. Collectors should be extremely careful before parting with money.”

Castlegate House Gallery, which specialises in Modern British and contemporary art, is recognised nationally for its expertise in artists such as Sheila Fell, Norman Cornish, Frank Auerbach, Winifred Nicholson and Percy Kelly.

Art Dealer Steve Swallow (Image: Carlos Reina Silvestre)

The gallery frequently advises collectors on provenance and authenticity, offering independent opinions on works they are considering purchasing.

Steve added: “The market for Modern British art continues to strengthen, but that inevitably attracts forgeries. Often, when something looks like a bargain, there’s a reason. The message is simple: fake art carries no fortune, only risk. We’re always happy to offer an informed view on authenticity to help collectors buy with confidence.”

The Fake? No Fortune warning reflects a broader concern across the art world about fake and misattributed works circulating both online and through reputable auction houses.

As the popularity of Modern British artists continues to grow, experts are urging collectors to seek professional guidance and provenance checks before making purchases.

Sheila Fell

Sheila Fell (1931–1979) was a British landscape painter renowned for her brooding depictions of Cumberland. Born in Aspatria, she studied at St Martin’s School of Art and became a Royal Academician in 1974. Though based in London, she remained emotionally tethered to Cumbria’s rugged terrain, which dominated her work. Her paintings, rich in mood and texture, reflect a deep connection to the land and its changing light, earning her acclaim as a leading mid-century landscape artist.