> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/billy-childish · updated 2026-11-02

# Billy Childish (b. 1959)

## What is Billy Childish’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 137 auction results for Billy Childish at 18 houses since 2005. Over the last 24 months the median price was $825 including buyer’s premium (middle half $260–$12,878, n=25). The auction record is $219,515 for toward a shore (2022, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | toward a shore, 2019 | Charcoal | $219,515 | Christie's | Mar 2022 |
| 2 | Fallada's Escape (Blue), 2010 | Charcoal | $166,756 | Christie's | Jul 2022 |
| 3 | Man Howling to Wolves, 2015 | Charcoal | $72,786 | Phillips | Oct 2025 |
| 4 | The artist in his studio, 2022 | Charcoal | $68,089 | Christie's | Mar 2026 |
| 5 | Birch Trees with Spring Snow, 2021 | Charcoal | $61,731 | Phillips | Jun 2024 |
| 6 | Rowers (version x) (Oyster Catchers, Thames Estuary 1932), 2012 | Oil and charcoal on canvas | $56,250 | Christie's | Dec 2018 |
| 7 | girl in swimming, yuga river, 2022 | Charcoal | $56,205 | Phillips | Jun 2024 |
| 8 | man stood on ice holding a dead duck (off hoo ness, river medway 1963) (version z), 2012 | Charcoal | $52,920 | Christie's | Sep 2022 |
| 9 | Fallada's boat - "escape" | Charcoal | $51,700 | Sotheby's | Sep 2022 |
| 10 | Man in a landscape - North Beach San Franscisco | Painting | $38,281 | Phillips | Oct 2013 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 65 | $13,394 |
| Works on paper | 12 | $2,748 |
| Other | 17 | $808 |
| Prints | 20 | $789 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 43 | $25,632 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 31 | $4,051 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 40 | $817 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 137 results from 18 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Billy Childish is a British (modern) artist with 175 auction lots recorded since 2005, median price $4,162. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Billy Childish sold in 2026 for $38,139, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Billy Childish work worth?

Across 132 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Billy Childish work is $4,162.

The median Billy Childish painting sells for $11,063 across 86 lots.

The median Billy Childish print sells for $352 across 39 lots.

The median Billy Childish work on paper sells for $15,219 across 8 lots.

Large (over 120 cm) Billy Childish paintings typically sell for $12,321–$37,402 (the middle half of 43 sold lots).

Medium (50–120 cm) Billy Childish paintings typically sell for $3,241–$10,324 (the middle half of 31 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 44 | $352†‡ | $1,625 | 88.6% | 2026-07-28 |
| Paintings | 97 | $11,063†‡ | $219,515 | 88.7% | 2026-10-16 |
| Works on Paper | 8 | $15,219 | $33,805 | — | 2024-02-13 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 7 | $68,089 | $219,515 | — | 2026-03-28 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Billy Childish's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (44 lots) median $352 with 88.6% sell-through. Paintings (97 lots) median $11,063, record $219,515. A typical Billy Childish painting sells for around 31× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 7 lots) the median is $68,089.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 30 | $170–$845†‡ | $244†‡ | $1,625 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $607–$882†‡ | $695†‡ | $1,524 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 11 | $1,274–$2,947‡ | $2,387‡ | $12,530 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 31 | $3,241–$10,324†‡ | $4,162†‡ | $30,414 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 43 | $12,321–$37,402†‡ | $22,945†‡ | $219,515 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2022 | $219,515 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $166,756 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $33,805 |
| Works on Paper | 2023 | $28,363 |
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $1,625 |
| Prints & Editions | 2023 | $1,524 |

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Billy Childish worth?

Across 132 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Billy Childish work is $4,162. The median Billy Childish painting sells for $11,063 across 86 lots. The median Billy Childish print sells for $352 across 39 lots. The median Billy Childish work on paper sells for $15,219 across 8 lots. Large (over 120 cm) Billy Childish paintings typically sell for $12,321–$37,402 (the middle half of 43 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Billy Childish paintings typically sell for $3,241–$10,324 (the middle half of 31 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Billy Childish painting?

Based on 86 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Billy Childish painting is $11,063. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Billy Childish's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Billy Childish painting is $219,515.

### What is the average price of a Billy Childish print?

Based on 39 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Billy Childish print is $352. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Billy Childish's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Billy Childish print is $1,625.

### What is the average price of a large Billy Childish painting?

Based on 43 sold lots, the median auction price of a large Billy Childish painting (large (over 120 cm)) is $22,945, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Billy Childish painting?

Based on 31 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Billy Childish painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $4,162, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Billy Childish's auction record?

Billy Childish's auction record is $219,515, set in 2022.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Billy Childish auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/billy-childish (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.