A FALMOUTH artist has set a record after one of his marine paintings sold for six figures - about three times the auction guide price.
Jamie Medlin's oil, a remarkably lifelike painting of yacht The Solent in the J-Class regatta in Falmouth this year, sold for £127,250 at Christie's in London.
The 42-year-old, who has been painting of 25 years, said: "Shocked doesn't even come close to how I feel.
"I was watching online with my wife and daughter and our jaws were on the floor.
"When it got to £50,000 we were hysterical and when it sold the tears were flowing."
A year ago Jamie set a record when a Pendennis Cup piece featuring Mariquita sold for £49,250.
The Solent had a guide price of £30,000 to £50,000 but Mr Medlin said he had been told to expect a good result.
It was bought by a mystery bidder.
Penryn-born Mr Medlin took thousands of photos of the regatta to use as a base for his painting – which took three months to complete. "It was overcast all day and then in the last three minutes the sun broke through and lit up the fleet," he said.
"Christie's has already asked me to do another from the regatta for an auction in May and I am just trying to decide what.
"I know that will never live up to what just happened though, as this one broke quite a few records."
Sarah Reynolds, a marine art expert at Christie's, said: "Jamie Medlin is one of the finest living marine artists, whose work has garnered international recognition."
He said the exposure from Christie's has led to some "high profile" commissions, including two paintings for venture capitalist Tom Perkins, and for rock legend Eric Clapton, of his motorboat Va Bene.
"My hope is my photographer style, based on detail and accuracy, lends itself perfectly to oil paintings of a maritime theme."
In 2001 he started painting larger canvases of regatta sailing fleets, having previously concentrated on classic yachts. This caught the attention of galleries and Christie's, where his work is regularly sold.
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