A new world record has been set for a work by artist Sybil Andrews (1898-1992), widely regarded as one of the most important British printmakers of the 20th century.

Speedway (1934) sold for £85,000 at Bonhams London on April 17, 21.4% over its £70,000 estimate, and 28.2% above the £66,300 achieved for her former world record, set by another of the run of 50 Speedway prints at auction in 2008.

In the process it became the most expensive print ever sold at auction by a member of the Grosvenor School of printmaking, which is among the exciting areas of art collecting.

Sybil Andrews’ Speedway sold for £85,000

"The work of Grosvenor School artists has a very modern aesthetic, which is one reason for its increasing popularity among collectors and the high prices it now commands," commented Bonhams' head of prints, Robert Kennan.

The school took its name from the avant-garde Grosvenor School of Modern Art in Pimlico, London. 

Bold, swirling images characterise the school's works. The school enjoyed its golden era in the aftermath of the second world war in Britain, as well as Australia, the US, China and Canada, where Andrews later lived.

The auction also saw a world record set by another member of the school, Claude Flight.

His work Speed, featuring London buses, sold for £50,000, comfortably beating the £30,000 high estimate and surpassing his old world record of £26,400, set in 2009, by 89.3%.

We will bring you further details of this most buoyant of markets throughout the course of the year.

Paul Fraser Collectibles is delighted to bring you our collection of investment-grade art.