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Brian Shields 'Braaq' 1951-1997
Brian Shields was born in Liverpool in 1951, His father Dennis Shields was a highly regarded artist but on account of having twelve children was unable to support his family through painting alone. Brian's eldest brother pursued a successful career in America as a sculptor.
The unusual name of 'braaq' is a misspelling of the famous French artist Braque which, on account of his artistic talent as a boy, was his nickname at school. The name 'Ann' after his own signature was his sister who died at the young age of 21 and to whose memory all of his subsequent paintings were dedicated.
Brian was discouraged from becoming a professional artist and after leaving school became a trainee chef in a somewhat drab hotel in Harrogate. In an attempt to brighten the place he painted a mural. This mural caused a great deal of interest in the area but as he had signed it 'Braaq', the true identity of the artist remained a mystery until a local journalist identified Brian Shields as the painter.
From this point he never looked back, holding his first exhibition in 1974. In 1977 he was invited to hold his first of four exhibitions in London's West End. It was after this exhibition that 'The Times' described him as "one of the six most successful artists in England".
All Brian's paintings are based, in a humorous way, on his childhood memories of Liverpool. He frequently painted himself as a boy wearing a striped jumper.
In 1997 at the age of 46 Brian died, leaving a contribution to the art world which ranks him among the leading artists in the country.
Morphets Realised Auction Prices
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ (1951 - 1997 BRITISH) Winter landscape with figures before a lake, industrial township beyond, oil on board, signed and dated 1975, 38 x 51 cms. | Sold on 10th June 2010 for £3,800 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' (1951-1997, BRITISH) Industrial lakeland landscape with cottages and fences on the banks, township beyond, acrylic/oil on board, signed and dated '77 lower left, 23 x 29cms. |
Sold on 10th June 2010 for £3,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' (1951-1997, BRITISH) Winter landscape with skating figures and a gossiping couple in the foreground, cottages nestling in the snowy valley, oil on board, signed lower right, 38 x 43cms. |
Sold on 10th June 2010 for £2,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' British (1951 - 1997) Winter scene of children pulling a sledge at dusk as the snow falls, oil on board, signed to lower left, 20 x 27.5 cms. | Sold on 26th November 2009 for £4,700 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' British (1951 - 1997) Snow covered industrial landscape with lights burning in the windows of a lakeside house, the factory chimneys and wheelhouse silhouetted against the night sky, oil on board, signed and dated '73 to lower left, 28 x 23 cms. See illustration | Sold on 26th November 2009 for £3,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' British (1951 - 1997) The park at dusk with figures in the mist, pastel, signed to lower right, 22 x 17.5 cms. | Sold on 26th November 2009 for £500 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Crowded beach scene with donkey rides, the pier and sailing dinghies out in the bay, oil on board, signed to lower right braaq 'Ann', 53cms x 69cms. | Sold on 10th September 2009 for £5,500 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Figures walking beside the river, the sprawling city with industrial buildings, smoking chimneys and terrace houses seen from across the river and fields, pastel, signed in pencil to lower left 'braaq 79 Ann', 16.5cms x 29.5cms. | Sold on 10th September 2009 for £1,500 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Terrace houses, church and mill around an open square busy with people, the rag and bone man's cart tied with balloons, oil on board, signed to lower right 'braaq 79 Ann' 46 x 61cms. | Sold on 10th September 2009 for £4,800 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Winter landscape with figures on a frozen lake, oil on canvas, signed to lower left 'braaq Ann', 46 x 61cms. | Sold on 10th September 2009 for £5,100 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Full portrait of an elderly man in profile, wearing a bowler hat and coat, stood reading a newspaper, pastel, signed braaq to lower left, 24cms x 14cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £750 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Full portrait of a girl, her back turned against the wind, pastel, signed braaq to lower left, 37cms x 30cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £650 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Park with figures gathered around a brass band playing on the bandstand, houses beyond, oil on canvas, signed braaq and dated '75 to lower right, 40cms x 51cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £2,900 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Winter industrial landscape with figures walking in the snow, the colliery wheel and factory chimneys dominating the city beyond, oil on board, signed braaq to lower right, 26cms x 30.5cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £1,900 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Brian and his sister standing beside a brick wall topped with iron railings and covered with graffiti, oil on board, signed braaq 75 FBA to lower left, 36cms x 25.5cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £2,850 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Winter landscape at sunset with figures sailing pond yachts in the snow covered park, the city beyond, oil on board,signed braaq 'Ann' to lower left, 31cms x 41cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £3,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. Winter industrial scene with figures walking in the snow, the city beyond, oil on board, signed braaq 'Ann' to lower left, 31cms x 43cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £3,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. The park at sunset with figures walking and chatting, oil on board, signed braaq 'Ann' to lower right, 45cms x 64.5cms | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £3,600 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS BRAAQ (1951-1997) British. 'Bisto', young boy stood beside a brick wall covered with graffiti, a sign advertising Bisto gravy and a poster for the Empire Theatre presenting Kenny Ball and the Beatles, oil on board, signed braaq 'Ann' to lower left, 39cms x 29cms. | Sold on 4th June 2009 for £6,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) The artist as a child, half portrait in profile, pencil, signed braaq to lower left, 19cmx18cm | Sold on 5th March 2009 for £300 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Snow covered park with figures tobogganing and skating on a frozen lake, whilst others watch from beside a cafe and boathouse, oil on canvas, signed braaq 74 to lower right, 71.5cms x 91cms | Sold on 5th March 2009 for £2000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Winter landscape with crowds promenading and in conversation before a row of houses, the city beyond, oil on board, signed to lower left 'braaq 76 F.B.A. Ann', 18.5cms x 28.5cms | Sold on 5th March 2009 for £1700 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) 'Boxed With This, I'm Off', crowds gathered to watch the cricket match, the city beyond, oil on canvas, signed braaq Ann to lower left, 46cms x 61cms | Sold on 5th March 2009 for £4500 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951 - 1997) 'Boxed With This, I'm Off', crowds gathered to watch the cricket match, the city beyond, oil on canvas, signed braaq Ann to lower left, 46cms x 61cms | Sold on 5th March 2009 for £6000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Figures in the fog, pastel, signed to lower left 'braaq 78 Ann', 30cms x 20cms | Sold on 29th November 2008 for £900 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Horse Fair, horse traders, lads grooming the stock and spectators, a set of four, pencil and watercolour, signed to lower left and right 'braaq 74', 14.5cms x 27cms | Sold on 29th November 2008 for £1,260 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Snow covered parkland with figures on a frozen lake, oil on canvas, signed to lower left 'braaq Ann', 46cms x 61.5cms | Sold on 29th November 2008 for £3,600 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Full portrait of a young girl, standing with her back to the wind and holding her coat around her, oil on canvas, signed to lower left braaq "ann", 25.5cms x 20.5cms. | Sold on 29th November 2008 for £1,550 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Full portrait of an old soldier, in profile, standing, wearing a bowler hat and overcoat, his scarf blowing in the wind, medals pinned to his lapel and carrying a folded newspaper in his pocket, oil on canvas, signed to lower left braaq "Ann", 25.5cms x 20.5cms | Sold on 29th November 2008 for £,1550 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ', BRITISH (1951-1997), Winter, crowded figures on a frozen lake on the edge of an industrial town, the horizon filled with the rooftops of terraced houses, factory chimneys and church steeples, oil on board, signed to lower right braaq "Ann", 45.5cms x 61cms | Sold on 29th November 2008 for £7,500 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951 - 1997) "Get that dog off the pitch Shields" football match with sepctators, terraced houses and factories beyond with city skyline, oil on board, signed 'braaq 79 Ann' lower right, 46cms x 61cms. | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £9,500 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951 - 1997) "I've got a two wheel bike" Children and dogs playing around a lamp post in the snow, industrial city skyline beyond, oil on board, signed 'braaq' lower right, 36cms x 25.5cms. | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £6,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951-1997), May Day, Streets decked with red, white and blue bunting and thronged with people watching the May Day parade pass by, oil on board, signed to lower right braaq 'Ann', 45.5cms x 61cms. | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £6,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951-1997), Winter parkland scene with figures skating on a lake, a church steeple on the edge of woodland beyond, oil on canvas, 45.5cms x 61cms, signed to lower right braaq 'Ann'. | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £4,200 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951-1997) Street scene with figures walking, playing and gossiping before a row of houses and archways, oil on board, 45.5cms x 61cms, signed to lower right braaq 76 FBA 'Ann', with original braaq gallery certificate and receipt for £695 in 1977. | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £4,200 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Children and dog beside a pond, city skyline beyond, at sunset, oil ond board, signed to lower right 'braaq 79 Ann', 27cms x 22cms. | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £3,600 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'BRAAQ' BRITISH (1951 - 1997) Cricket match with spectators in the foreground, town skyline with church towers beyond, pastel and pencil, signed 'braaq' lower right, 30cms x 45cms | Sold on 4th September 2008 for £900 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'braaq' BRITISH (1951 - 1997), The Football Match, The crowd looks on as the referee indicates a free kick, the rooflines of factories and mills beyond, acrylic on board, signed 'braaq ann' to lower right, 47.5cms x 66.5cms. | Sold on 5th June 2008 for £14,000 |
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BRIAN SHIELDS 'braaq' BRITISH (1951 - 1997), The Cricket Match, Game in play with out-fielder running for the ball as crowds look on, a river and industrial city seen from the park, oil on board, signed to lower right 'braaq ann', 47cms x 66cms | Sold on 5th June 2008 for £9,000 |
