Here is a newly seen painting by Alfred Wallis, soon to be auctioned at Lay's Saleroom. It shows a cutter or similar single-masted gaff-rigged sailing vessel on rough sea.

It may be a late painting as it is done on the back of an envelope. From 1939, Wallis was forced to use this type of scrappier, flimsier support as the good quality cardboard he deliberately chose to paint on was becoming scarce. This was due to the National War Effort, which urged citizens to send all types of ‘used cardboard’ to Paper Salvage Depots set up in major towns, including St Ives and Penzance.

Thanks to Lay’s Auctioneers for their lovely article about the upcoming Alfred Wallis talk on 20 November 2025 in the saleroom.