The earliest known existing work of art by Pink Floyd founding member, Roger Keith ‘Syd’ Barrett is set to go under the hammer at Thomson Roddick Callan’s auction of fine art in Carlisle on 30th July. The pastel and watercolour work was painted at home in Cambridge in 1963 while studying at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, where he met soon-to-be Pink Floyd member, David Gilmour. The following year, he enrolled at Camberwell College of Arts in London to study painting and in 1965 Pink Floyd began to emerge from London’s underground music scene to become one of the most influential psychedelic rock bands of all time. Unfortunately, Syd’s time with the band was brief due to various personal issues and he officially left the band in 1968 to pursue a solo career, but not before he had made an indelible mark on music history.

In later life, he continued to find peace and solace in creating works of art, although these were usually destroyed on completion, and Thomson Roddick Callan are thrilled to be able to offer one of his rarely-available works onto the open market. Competition for it is likely to be fierce and the auctioneers are expecting interest from around the world. Prospective bidders will be able to register to bid at the sale and view the catalogue from now with live internet bidding available at www.thomsonroddick.com.

The painting is 55cm x 69cm

Public View:      Friday 26 July 10am – 4pm
                        Monday 29 July 10am – 4pm
Auction:            Tuesday 30 July 9am

The painting is currently owned by Carlisle resident Brian Wernham who originally purchased the painting via the 2006 Cheffins charity auction. Brian Wernham has also curated an exhibition of Syd Barrett’s work at the Ideas Generation Gallery attended by the likes of Storm Thorgerson, Graham Coxon, Noel Fielding, Captain Sensible and more.

The painting is expected to fetch somewhere between £6000 and £8000 but may go for more.