Hammer price of bird paintings by Archibald Thorburn exceed expectations at today's auction in Yorkshire

                                          

This enchanting Archibald Thorburn painting of Common Terns at their nest was a star performer at an auction staged earlier today by Tennants of Leyburn in Yorkshire. It sold for £11,000 - more than three times higher than the pre-sale estimate of  £2,000-£3,00. Three other bird paintings by the same artist - Woodcock (£6,500), Jay (£5,000) and Robin (£4,000) - all also achieved substantially high prices than had been expected.