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

# David Preston (b. 1948)

## What is David Preston’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 34 auction results for David Preston at 4 houses since 2010. Over the last 24 months the median price was $471 including buyer’s premium (middle half $394–$725, n=10). The auction record is $1,660 for Cave's Hill (2025, Lawsons Auctioneers). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cave's Hill, 1975 | Oil on board | $1,660 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Sep 2025 |
| 2 | Marmalade Roses, 2006 | Oil on canvas | $1,062 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jun 2026 |
| 3 | Petunias | Oil on linen | $624 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Sep 2026 |
| 4 | The House, 2008 | Pencil on paper | $478 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Oct 2026 |
| 5 | Sunflowers in Rainbow Lane, 1992 | Linocut | $464 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jan 2026 |
| 6 | Study for Hill Near Hargraves, 1988 | Oil on canvas | $445 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Apr 2026 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Cockatoo | Etching | $758 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jan 2026 |
| 2 | Daisies | Digital silkscreen | $377 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Sep 2026 |
| 3 | White Cockatoo | Etching | $338 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Jan 2026 |
| 4 | Abstract | Aquatint | $21 | Lawsons Auctioneers | Dec 2025 |


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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $478 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 34 results from 4 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


David Preston is an Australia artist with 31 auction lots recorded since 2011, median price $445. 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 David Preston sold in 2026 for $478, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a David Preston work worth?

Across 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Preston work is $445.

The median David Preston print sells for $379 across 20 lots.

The median David Preston painting sells for $535 across 6 lots.

The median David Preston work on paper sells for $478 across 1 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 | 23 | $379† | $1,498† | 87% | 2026-01-21 |
| Paintings | 9 | $535† | $1,660 | 66.7% | 2026-09-16 |
| Works on Paper | 4 | $478 | $478 | 25% | 2026-10-04 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 1 | $229† | $229† | — | 2014-10-30 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

David Preston's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (23 lots) median $379 with 87% sell-through. Paintings (9 lots) median $535, record $1,660.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 7 | $199–$525† | $369† | $758 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 13 | $260–$464† | $384† | $1,498† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2025 | $1,660 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $1,498† |
| Paintings | 2026 | $1,062 |
| Prints & Editions | 2018 | $799† |
| Works on Paper | 2026 | $478 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2014 | $229† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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 David Preston worth?

Across 21 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a David Preston work is $445. The median David Preston print sells for $379 across 20 lots. The median David Preston painting sells for $535 across 6 lots. The median David Preston work on paper sells for $478 across 1 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 David Preston print?

Based on 20 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a David Preston print is $379. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is David Preston's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a David Preston print is $1,498. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $1,498 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a medium David Preston print?

Based on 13 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium David Preston print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $384, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.

### What is David Preston's auction record?

David Preston's auction record is $1,660, set in 2025.

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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, “David Preston auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/david-preston (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.