THE work of a Bolton artist is to share the auctioneer’s podium with those of LS Lowry today.

Capturing a striking scene from the town’s past, the landscape by Bryan Senior is being sold in a fine art auction after last appearing in public more than 60 years ago.

Bolton Town Hall was painted by Mr Senior in September 1954 and went on to win the landscape prize at a town festival the following year. The oil-on-board scene was bought by Bolton Evening News chairman Marcus Tillotson and hung in the paper’s offices until the company was sold.

During a move to new headquarters a former worker took the painting home and has now decided to sell the piece. But prior to the sale the seller tracked down and contacted Mr Senior, aged 82, who now lives in Tunbridge Wells after seeing the painting feature in a Youtube video about this work.

He said: “They did not know who it was by or anything about it. I was really pleased they got in touch.

“I did not do many paintings of Bolton and this is one of the few that I now know where it is.

“It was my first significant painting and it is very Bolton. It is a Bolton which does not exist anymore. The Howell Croft you see in the painting is no longer there.

“It has historical interest.”

Mr Senior grew up in Bolton where his parents ran the H&S Senior shop in Bradshawgate in the 1960s. He later attended Chelsea School of Art and Cambridge University.

His work was part of a major exhibition of artwork staged at Bolton Art Gallery in 1961 and he has held 40 solo exhibitions in the UK, including London and Edinburgh, as well as in Ireland, Italy and America.

Bolton Town Hall will go under the hammer at Capes Dunn, Stockport, from 6.30pm alongside a number of limited edition prints and signed prints by LS Lowry.

The Bolton large oil on board landscape is valued at £200 to £300 but the artist hopes to see it go for more.

He adds: “I never thought of owning it myself.

“I did not think anyone down south where I live would be interested in Bolton Town hall but I hope it will go to someone who finds it of interest.

“I think the price is too low, much too low. I would like to see it go to four figures. If I was selling the painting to a client I would have a price guide of £4,000. It is an important historical work.”