A WAREHAM auction house will venture into new territory this month with its first ever modern art sale.

Cottees Auction House, Wareham, is offering paintings from three acclaimed modern artists.

Paul Nash, who was a frequent visitor to Purbeck during the late 1930s, Fred Yates and Lawrence Durrell will feature in the auction.

Paul Nash, an acclaimed figure in modern art, has work hanging in the Tate Gallery. Cottees, Wareham, will be selling two of his small watercolour sketches, along with some letters and black and white photographs of the local area he used as basis for his paintings.

Auctioneer John Condie, of Cottees, said: "Nash stayed at 2 The Parade, Swanage, from where he painted many famous works.

Two Yates paintings of local interest, featuring the Wellington Clock Tower and the old fishermen's huts near Swanage lifeboat slipway, will also go under the hammer at the sale.

John explained: "A chair seat painted with two deck chair attendants may also have been painted locally and is expected to attract much interest as an unusual naive work.

"Fred Yates was a contemporary of L S Lowry and like Lowry his art recorded a disappearing England of mills and factories, working class holidays at the seaside and the grind of daily routine.

"His style was naive and childlike but the bright colours are reminiscent of his hero Van Gogh."

The third artist to have work included in the Cottees sale, Lawrence Durrell, is also an important 20th century painter.

Mr Condie said: "His brother was Gerald Durrell, the zoo owner. Cottees will be offering ten works by Lawrence who led a bohemian lifestyle in the 1960s and 1970s. His paintings reflect this style and his work does not often appear at auction."

Viewing is available on Saturday, April 11, from 10am-12noon, and on Monday, April 13, from 10am-4pm.

The sale is scheduled for April 14.