A PICTURESQUE view of Stow created by the artist Lowry in 1947 is to be auctioned at Christie’s in London.

The painting will go under the hammer on November 16 as part of Christie’s sale of 20th Century British and Irish Art and is estimated to reach up to £350,000.

Lowry created the work after he visited the Cotswolds and celebrated the local area by producing four works depicting winter street views in Moreton, Bourton, Stow and Northleach.

The work is on offer alongside 13 paintings by Lowry which were part of a collection that belonged to restaurateur and hotelier Charles Forte.

According to Christie’s Stow very much fascinated and appealed to Lowry and his winter scene depicts Market Square and St Edward’s Hall which is now the public library.

Director at Christie’s Rachel Hidderley is delighted to have the collection at Christie’s.

She said: “It’s the best collection of Lowry works every to come to auction. It’s great to have such an important group.

“It’s a specific place. There are not a lot of Lowrys around where you can recognise the view. Somebody may be very keen on it. There is every chance someone from the Cotswolds will buy it.

“The majority of Lowrys sell between £100,000 and £500,000,” she added.

Five further paintings by Lowry are to be auctioned the following day as part of the 20th Century British and Irish Art day sale.

Christie’s holds the world auction record price for L.S. Lowry, with The Football Match created in 1949 which sold for £5.6 million in May this year.