“A Harassed Mother”

11th February 2026 | by Stephen Sparrow, Northern Art Specialist, on behalf of Wilson55

On the 50th anniversary year of the death of L.S. Lowry, Wilson55 Auctioneers & Valuers are honoured to present an exceptional and previously unknown drawing by one of Britain’s most beloved artists – an offering of remarkable rarity that casts fresh light on Lowry’s later life and his quiet acts of generosity.

L.S. Lowry R.A. (British 1887-1976), “A Harassed Mother”, signed and dated 1970, titled on mount board, pencil on paper.

Estimate: £25,000-35,000

The work, A Harassed Mother, is an original pencil drawing with an extraordinary provenance. It was formerly owned by Professor W.J. Orville Thomas, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Salford, a key figure in the acquisition of art for both the University and the wider Manchester area. Through his close friendship with the artist Harold Riley, Professor Thomas was introduced to Lowry himself, becoming part of the intimate artistic circle surrounding the painter in his later years. His cultural influence extended further still: Professor Thomas also arranged for Harold Riley to meet the Duke of Edinburgh for a sitting, during Prince Philip’s tenure as Chancellor of the University of Salford.

What makes this drawing truly unprecedented is not only its quality, but the circumstances of its creation and acquisition. A Harassed Mother was not purchased – it was won by Professor Thomas in a raffle on 21^st January 1971. Contemporary press cuttings reveal that two prominent Manchester artists donated works as competition prizes at a cheese and wine evening held to raise funds for the improvement of the L.S. Lowry Room at Salford Corporation Art Gallery. One prize was a portrait of Lowry in charcoal and chalk by Harold Riley; the other was this very drawing, gifted by Lowry himself.

The Guardian (13.01.1971) and [?]The Daily (13.01.1971), scans by The Lowry Collection

This charitable act by Lowry is previously unrecorded and offers rare insight into an aspect of the artist’s life that is not widely documented. The drawing depicts three cheerful children alongside a visibly worried mother – Lowry’s only difficulty, it seems, was deciding on a title. That was ultimately provided by Mrs Joyce Shaw, wife of Salford Art Gallery Director Stanley Shaw, who aptly named the work A Harassed Mother.

Adding further weight to its importance, the drawing is accompanied by an exceptional piece of documentation: a signed declaration of assignment of copyright, dated February 1971. Such material is vanishingly rare and elevates the work to a level of provenance seldom encountered on the open market.

The accompanying signed declaration of assignment of copyright, dated February 1971

The wider archive associated with Professor Thomas deepens this context. Included with the drawing are copies of speeches delivered when L.S. Lowry (1975) and Harold Riley (1979) were awarded Honorary Doctorates of Letters by the University of Salford. A press cutting from Lowry’s ceremony captures the esteem in which he was held and the closeness of his relationship with the city:

“The measure of an artist’s greatness is the extent of the impact of his work on the society in which he lives. If one takes this as a definition, then Mr Lowry is one of the greatest British artists in the whole history of art.”

 – Prof W.J. Orville Thomas

Lowry, then aged 87, received his degree only a stone’s throw from Salford Art Gallery, home to the largest public collection of his works – an artist profoundly rooted in place, yet universally celebrated.

Lowry being presented with his honorary degree from the University of Salford in 1975, photos by The University of Salford

The sale also features other highlights from Professor Thomas’s collection, including previously unrecorded signed Lowry prints and two signed books beyond the limited editions, offering a rare insight into the artist’s close personal connection with him.

This upcoming auction represents a rare and historic opportunity: the chance to acquire a previously unrecorded Lowry drawing, with impeccable provenance, unique documentary evidence, and a story that enriches our understanding of the artist himself. Works of this significance seldom come to market, and when they do, they redefine the moment.

L.S. Lowry R.A. (British 1887-1976), “Punch and Judy”, signed in ink in the margin, outside of the limited edition of 75, which are signed and numbered in pencil within the plate, colour print. Estimate: £3,000-5,000

L.S. Lowry R.A. (British 1887-1976), "Sunday Afternoon", signed in pencil in the margin, outside of an official limited edition, colour print. Estimate: £1,000-1,500

Click Here for the full catalogue entries and additional illustrations of each of the lots mentioned, and to view the rest of Professor W.J. Orville Thomas's collection in the preview for our upcoming Northern Art Sale

For any enquiries about this collection, or about consigning your own Lowry artwork to one of our auctions, contact our Art Department via stephen.sparrow@wilson55.com or anna.lambert@wilson55.com, or call us on 01270 623 878.

With special thanks to Claire H Stewart, Curator, The Lowry Collection