Does Honesty Pay?

By captainplanet | Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 15:30

A Newton Abbot businessman who claims he has no skill is trying to sell his art for more than a million pounds, reported Newton Today.

Nigel Evans, who owns Xylophone Kitchens, discovered his passion for painting only a year ago, and is now selling his collection of 70 pieces on ebay, with a starting price of £1.5 million.

That price is staggeringly high even for trained, experienced and respected artists, but it is all the more bewildering given his stark admissions: that he has no skill, no real inspiration and that the paintings can mean whatever anyone wants them to.

Perhaps Mr Evans thinks that his honesty is what makes these paintings so valuable. In an era in which every artist seems to wax lyrical about the absurd and abstract meanings of their pieces, Newton Abbot has produced someone who is happy to admit that his pieces are lacking in inspiration, meaning and skill.

Unfortunately for Mr Evans, it seems the rest of the world does not share his rather optimistic valuation of his work, as on Friday he had received no bids for his work on Friday. Today is the last day for the auction – but you may have missed out already!!

Are you a keen artist or an ebay enthusiast? What do you think of Mr Evans’ chances?

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Comments

Perhaps his auction is the real artwork? Puts me in mind of the KLF burning a million quid in the name of art.

By E_Griffin at 00:13 on 12/07/09
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Why not? He'll just keep lowering the value until its snapped up. Conceptual art... honestly

By INLUMINO at 12:38 on 09/07/09
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1.5 mill? What is the man thinking.
Perhaps it's really just a way of mocking the art industry, in which case, respect.
At a time when the stock market is at its most precarious, consumers worldwide seem to be pouring their excess money into art, Damien Hirst having stepped out as the next big thing despite his arguably banal and kitsch designs.
I'd say Evans has probably got less chances than Marla Olmstead in selling these pieces at such exorbitant prices.

By Fizzwizz at 13:56 on 06/07/09
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I am a massive art fan but not sure my works would go for £1.50 let alone a mill.

By samsonsobers at 12:17 on 06/07/09
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Without being able to see the pictures it is difficult to judge, but good luck to him. Beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder. Keep us posted as I too have several works of art in the attic. Perhaps we could have a Newton Abbot People art exhibition and all make a packet...

By Ginny48 at 14:53 on 01/07/09
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