Syd Barrett's earliest known work expected to fetch thousands at auction

Syd Barrett's earliest known work is to be auctioned off.

The late Pink Floyd star - who died in 2006 at the age of 60 - originally trained as a painter before becoming a part of the Wish You Were Here rockers and now a piece he created while studying at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology in 1963 and it could fetch between £6000 and £8000.

The artwork is titled 'Dried Flowers' and it is a watercolour piece depicting a wilted plant upon a pale yellow background.

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.

In 1968, Syd - whose real name was Roger Keith - left the band over personal issues and continued to seek solace in his artwork, although these were usually destroyed on completion so Thomson Roddick Callan are thrilled to be able to offer one of his rarely-available works onto the open market.

The picture was last purchased by Brian Wernham in 2006 following Syd's death with the money going to Rosemary Breen's charity in Cambridge after the death of her brother Syd.

The auction house believes that competition will be "fierce" to win ownership of the piece but bidders will be able to register to bid at the sale and view the catalogue from now with live internet bidding available at 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

- Bang! Showbiz and republished here with permission.