A TINY sketch by a world famous artist brought in £11,000 at auction with an oil painting by him or one of his associates fetched £16,000.

Reeman Dansie, based in Wyncolls Road, Colchester, had works by John Constable available in their fine art sale.

A tiny pencil drawing down by the renowned artist A Church On The Estuary, is from a page of the sketch book of laid paper watermarked 1806 and used by Constable in 1808 and 1809.

It sold under the hammer for £11,000.

Auctioneers were also able to bring in £16,000 for a cloud study which has been recognised as being Circle of Constable.

The painting has previously been sold as being a genuine Constable but experts cannot agree whether it is high enough quality to be his.

However, they are confident it was done by someone close to him.

Another Constable sketch, entitled Shipping Off The Kent Coast, was expected to fetch up to £20,000 but failed to sell at auction.

Auctioneer Jonathan Benson said: "Even from just a few lines you can see what a talented artist he was."

Constable split his time between London and his home in East Bergholt where he painted stunning landscapes. The area has now become popularly known as Constable Country.