Screen legend's artworks sold for £81,000

The collection of pictures by Yorkshire artist Peter Brook was sold yesterday by Bonhams in Chester, a painting entitled Pennine Christmas Day making 12,480, the highest price of the 19 pieces of artwork up or sale. It had been estimated at 2,500 to 3,500.

Mason, who was born in Huddersfield, was filming in the North of England when he was encouraged to meet artist Peter Brook. The actor became a collector of Mr Brook's paintings of deserted farmhouses, moorlands and remote rural scenes, often featuring a man and his sheepdog.

For many years Mr Brook's work hung at Mason's home in Switzerland, and some were put up for sale by the late actor's estate. The paintings up for sale included wintry scenes and in one a wagon loaded with hay is seen negotiating a snow-filled road.

The head of pictures at Bonhams in Chester, Richard Hopkinson, said he believed Mason was attracted to the works of the late Mr Brook, who was born near Holmfirth, as they reminded him of home.