Lost Turner watercolour fetches £96k at auction

A lost watercolour by one of Britain's greatest landscape artists has sold at auction for £96,000.

The JMW Turner painting of Hampton Court, Herefordshire, was found "stuck among" a number of other paintings at nearby Kinsham Court.

It was thought to have been forgotten about over time, with experts predicting in January that it could fetch a hefty fee.

During an auction in Leominster on Wednesday, there was interest from around the world.

The painting was eventually sold to an unknown phone bidder who will pay about 30% on top of the purchase price for fees and taxes.

Expert James Pearn, of Minster Auctions which sold the piece, previously said he was surprised to find the painting.

He said Turner would only have been about 21 when he painted the work.

"The signature is in the style," Mr Pearn said.

"That of course makes it all the more exciting. He does have quite a lot of distinctive features in this."

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