Selling a David Hockney Print: A Guide for Consignors
David Hockney is one of the most celebrated and sought-after British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. If you’re considering selling a Hockney work this guide will walk you through the key factors that can influence pricing and help you navigate the consignment process with confidence.
Understand What You Own
Start by identifying the key details of your Hockney print:
• Title of the work
• Year of creation
• Edition number (e.g. 15/75)
• Signature (Is it hand-signed, plate-signed, or unsigned?)
• Medium (Etching, lithograph, digital print, etc.)
• Size and format
These details can often be found directly on the work or in any accompanying documentation. If you’re unsure, get in touch with one of our specialists who can assist.
Condition is Key
Condition has a direct impact on resale value. This is particularly true for older Hockney works where condition issues can occur over time due to how the print has been previously framed or stored. Things to watch out for include:
• Fading or discolouration
• Creases, tears, or handling marks
• Stains (especially from previous framing)
• Paper integrity (e.g. foxing or brittleness)
Works in excellent condition will achieve stronger prices, so professional condition report or light restoration may be advisable before selling.
Collect David Hockney Artworks
Provenance & Documentation
Buyers often place a premium on works with clear and reputable provenance. If you purchased the work from a gallery, fair, or auction house, it’s a good idea to retain any original invoices or certificates of authenticity. These documents:
• Build trust with prospective buyers
• Help verify authenticity
• Offer insight into exhibition history, previous ownership, or publications
If you no longer have documentation, don’t worry—some works can be researched and verified with the help of secondary sources or catalogue raisonnés.
Market Demand & Subject Matter
While most signed, editioned Hockney prints hold strong market appeal, certain series, subjects, and periods consistently perform above average.
Recent sales, institutional exhibitions, and market trends can also affect demand and pricing. Our consignments team at Lougher can advise on current interest in your specific print.
The “pool” period (e.g.“Lithographic Water Made of Lines” and “Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink”) is among the most desirable due to its cultural relevance and visual impact.
Highly collectable and instantly recognisable, these large-scale colour lithographs (e.g. Rain, Sun, Wind) are known for their technical brilliance and limited editions.
Works from A Rake’s Progress (1961–63) and Illustrations for Fourteen Poems from C.P. Cavafy (1966) are critically and historically significant, often featured in institutional collections.
Hockney’s intimate portraits—particularly of close friends, family, and muses like Celia Birtwell—tend to be highly regarded, especially those from the 1970s and 1980s.
Editions from The Yosemite Suite, The Arrival of Spring, and The Four Seasons are increasingly collectable, bridging traditional printmaking with Hockney’s modern embrace of technology.
How Much Are David Hockney Prints Worth?
This chart reflects the evolving strength of the David Hockney print market. Despite a dip in 2020, average selling prices rebounded powerfully, peaking in 2023 at nearly £30,000. While 2024 saw a natural correction, values remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, underscoring Hockney’s continued appeal among serious collectors and investors.
What is David Hockney’s Most Expensive Print?
£18 million
Auction sales of Hockney prints exceeded £18 million globally in 2023 alone.
150-300%
Hockney’s top editions have appreciated by over 150–300% in the last decade, following big exhibitions and record-breaking sales.
£1.1 million
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (1980) print sold for over £1.1 million at auction.
Edition Size & Rarity
Prints with smaller edition sizes are typically more valuable due to their scarcity. For example, a work from an edition of 30 will usually command a higher price than one from an edition of 250, all else being equal.
Additionally, rare colourways, trial proofs, or artist’s proofs (A/P) can attract collectors looking for something more unique.
Some works were published as part of deluxe book sets—these can be valuable, especially if complete and well-preserved.
Framing & Presentation
While framing doesn’t necessarily increase a print’s value, it can influence buyer interest. A well-framed work (particularly one using conservation-grade materials) enhances presentation. On the other hand, a print that’s tightly glued down or showing signs of poor mounting may deter buyers or require restoration. If a print has been in a frame a long time, a buyer may also request to see the print unframed to see the full condition.
If your print is unframed, that’s often preferable—especially for international shipping. Lougher's framing service can help you frame your work efficiently and to museum standard.
Choosing Where to Sell
Working with a reputable gallery or private sales platform ensures that your print reaches the right collectors. At Lougher, we offer:
• Curated exposure to a global client base of Hockney collectors
• Photography and cataloguing, with targeted marketing across multiple platforms
• Optional framing and conservation
• Transparent advice on pricing and positioning
• Handling logistics and shipping
• Smooth and secure sales process from start to finish
We’ll evaluate your Hockney print and recommend the best strategy—whether through private sale, online listing, or auction.
Wanted by Lougher
We have buyers in our network looking for the following works. If you have any of these and our looking to sell, please get in touch:
Thinking of Selling?
If you have a David Hockney print and are considering selling, we’d be happy to discuss your options. Simply get in touch with details of the work, and a member of our team will provide a complimentary valuation and suggested next steps.
Who is David Hockney?
Discover more about the artist in our editorials.
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