Peter Doig's Bird House (Small) sold for £1m ($1.6m) in Sotheby's contemporary art day auction on July 2.

The work dates to 1995 and is one of a series of works by the artist that use snow as a motif.

Peter Doig is one of the world's most valuable living painters

Sotheby's explains: "In the early 1990s Doig began creating works that engaged with skiing and snow motifs, characterising both a sense of fantasy and sentimentality through a painting style which is resolutely figurative.

"Expressing the effect snow had on the mood and atmosphere of his paintings, Doig stated: 'I often paint scenes with snow because snow somehow has this effect of drawing you inwards and is frequently used to suggest retrospection and nostalgia and make-believe'."

Doig is among the world's most acclaimed living painters. His work is increasingly sought after, with a new $26m record set for Swamped (1990) at Christie's earlier this year.

Eduardo Chillida's Sonora (1956) was another highlight, realising £617,000 ($962,890) against a £450,000 ($702,270) estimate - an increase of 37.1%.

Chillida (1924-2002) was a much feted Basque sculptor, whose large scale public works can be seen throughout Europe.

The auction house comments: "Dating from 1956, Sonora is a rare and exquisite example of Eduardo Chillida's early work.

"Having remained in the same collection for over forty years, this is the first time that Sonora has appeared publically since it was exhibited at the Maeght Gallery in 1956, the year of its execution."

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