 In contrast Elizabeth Harvey-Lee will bring a Canaletto. Canaletto dominated topographical painting in Venice in the first half of the 18th century and his 'vedute' (views) were much collected by visiting British grand tourists. This patronage led him to dedicate the first collected edition of his etchings "Vedute", published c1644, to the British Consul in Venice. Canaletto had taken up etching in the later 1730's and before he abandoned the technique in 1746, produced thirty-four plates. Whether topographical or capriccio views, they sparkle with Veneto light and are imbued with the essence of the Rococo. 'La Terrazza' from circa 1740-44 comes from the collection of Dr Dominique Franquet and carries an asking price of £3,000.

 Francis Iles will be bringing a collection of eight Austin Spare drawings to the Fair. Many will need no introduction to Spare’s unique life story and life’s work, and will be fascinated to see these previously unseen works. They are typical of his automatic drawings. Spare was born in 1886 and was apprenticed at the age of 13 to a stained glass maker, and in his teenage years became fascinated with the occult. His friendship with a witch led him to develop pictorial sigils and Spare would often produce fully worked drawings, apparently while he was asleep.

 Robert Eagle will be showing six new-to-the market oil paintings by John Bellany, the roaring boy of British 20th century art, renowned for his striking, sometimes macabre imagery that was inspired by life in the Calvinist - and deeply superstitious - Scottish fishing community in which he was brought up. Strange fish and creatures of the deep were a frequent motif of his work, and he drank like a fish too until his alcoholism overtook him and he underwent a liver transplant in 1988. He died in 2013, aged 71, shortly after a major retrospective at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. His work can be seen in Tate Modern, the National Portrait Gallery as well as the MOMA and the Metropolitan in New York. These works come from a close relative who was gifted them by the artist. Prices will range from £3,000 to £7,000.

 Fox House Fine Art specialises in a wide range of artists, among them works by Ralston Gudgeon 1910-1984, Scottish artist and graduate of the Glasgow School of Art. The prolific wildlife painter, who combines great knowledge of birds and mammals with the jewel-like hues of the Scottish Colourists. He was well-known for always wearing a kilt, carrying his paints, brushes and pencils in his sporran.

The Fair supports The Artists General Benevolent Institution (AGBI) and is delighted that William Packer, the art critic and artist, has kindly agreed to guide a special tour around the Fair on Friday, 31st January at noon. This will be on a first-come-first-served basis. The tour will be free, but donations to the charity are welcome.

The Fair provides a wide platform with no overall designation of genre or era other than the criteria being good vetted quality at sensible prices. The 34 dealers will be showing a wide array of all styles, from the traditional qualities of the 16th century to the current contemporary, with a good backbone of the much loved 20th century schools - from St Ives to British Abstract with a sprinkling of Scandinavian mid-century modern.

EXHIBITORS INDEX
Founding members exhibiting: Connect Fair Director: James Manning of Manning Fine Art Connect Fair Administrator: Anna Wakerley of Oriel Fine Art Connect Fair – consultant: Matthew Hall of Panter & Hall Decorative Connect Fair Event & Ents: Freya Mitton of Freya Mitton 20th Century British Art Connect Fair Press Officer: Silke Lohmann of exclamation!pr Other exhibitors: Amanda Aldous Fine Art The Art Stable Blondes Fine Art Carina Haslam Art The Canon Gallery Coombe Gallery Elizabeth Harvey Lee Emma Mason Fifties Art & Design Fox House Fine Art Francis Iles Galleries Goodman Fine Art Gwen Hughes Fine Art Japan Print Gallery John Iddon Fine Art Kaye Michie Kittoe Contemporary Maritime Originals Michael Parkin Fine Art Neil Schofield Fine Art Robert Eagle Fine Art Roe & Moore Sarah Colegrave Fine Art Saunders Fine Art Stephen Lacey Gallery Ted Few Thomas Spencer Fine Art Thompsons’ Gallery White Space Art