> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sean-mcsweeney-2 · updated 2026-11-02 # Sean McSweeney (1935–2018) ## What is Sean McSweeney’s work worth? {#value} As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 144 auction results for Sean McSweeney at 4 houses since 1999. Over the last 24 months the median price was $3,870 including buyer’s premium (middle half $2,171–$6,014, n=7). The auction record is $58,620 for Stilly Estuary February (2008, James Adam Salesrooms). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database. **Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture** | # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Stilly Estuary February | Oil on panel | $58,620 | James Adam Salesrooms | Apr 2008 | | 2 | Marshland, Ballyconnell, Sligo Triptych, 1986 | Oil on board | $30,617 | James Adam Salesrooms | Jun 2011 | | 3 | Conway's Bog, 1988 | Oil on canvas | $23,512 | James Adam Salesrooms | Sep 2025 | | 4 | Alone in the Field | Oil on canvas | $23,343 | James Adam Salesrooms | Nov 2010 | | 5 | LANDSCAPE, 1966 | Oil on canvas | $20,067 | deVeres Art Auctions | Oct 2021 | | 6 | Fields to the Sea, 1966 | Oil on Canvas | $15,662 | James Adam Salesrooms | Dec 2007 | | 7 | Trees Holywood, 1984 | Oil on board | $13,339 | James Adam Salesrooms | Nov 2010 | | 8 | A cry from the mountain, 1965 | Oil on Canvas | $12,898 | James Adam Salesrooms | Dec 2007 | | 9 | Trees at Lissadell | Oil on board | $12,623 | James Adam Salesrooms | Dec 2008 | | 10 | Sean McSweeney RHA (1935-2018)Ballyconnell, SligoOil on canvas, 64 x 92cm (25¼ x 36)Signed and dated (19)'86; also signed and inscribed versoExhibited: Wagner Gallery, Sydney, Australia, 'Six West of Ireland Artists', c.1986, cover illustration, 1986 | Oil on canvas | $11,401 | James Adam Salesrooms | Oct 2019 | **Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)** | Medium | Sales | Median | |---|---|---| | Paintings | 108 | $2,278 | | Works on paper | 18 | $971 | **Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)** | Size | Sales | Median | |---|---|---| | Medium (50-120 cm) | 51 | $3,440 | | Small (under 50 cm) | 74 | $1,723 | Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 144 results from 4 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data) Sean McSweeney is an Irish artist with 188 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $1,859. 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 Sean McSweeney sold in 2026 for $5,734, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. ## What is a Sean McSweeney work worth? Across 143 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sean McSweeney work is $1,859. The median Sean McSweeney painting sells for $2,158 across 124 lots. The median Sean McSweeney work on paper sells for $888 across 18 lots. The median Sean McSweeney print sells for $3 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Sean McSweeney paintings typically sell for $27–$3,853 (the middle half of 69 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Sean McSweeney paintings typically sell for $92–$7,848 (the middle half of 52 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 | 1 | $3 | $3 | — | 2014-12-02 | | Paintings | 164 | $2,158†‡ | $58,620 | 75.6% | 2026-03-24 | | Works on Paper | 20 | $888† | $4,335 | 90% | 2026-03-24 | | Masterpieces (top of market) | 8 | $21,705 | $58,620 | — | 2025-09-24 | † hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. Sean McSweeney's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (1 lots) median $3. Paintings (164 lots) median $2,158, record $58,620. A typical Sean McSweeney painting sells for around 771× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 8 lots) the median is $21,705. ## Price by size ### Paintings | Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record | |---|---|---|---|---| | small (under 50 cm) | 69 | $27–$3,853†‡ | $1,863†‡ | $58,620 | | medium (50–120 cm) | 52 | $92–$7,848†‡ | $3,436†‡ | $30,617 | † hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified. ### Works on Paper | Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record | |---|---|---|---|---| | small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $340–$1,205† | $888† | $2,825 | † 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 | 2008 | $58,620 | | Paintings | 2011 | $30,617 | | Works on Paper | 2010 | $4,335 | | Works on Paper | 2007 | $2,825 | | Prints & Editions | 2014 | $3 | 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 Sean McSweeney worth? Across 143 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Sean McSweeney work is $1,859. The median Sean McSweeney painting sells for $2,158 across 124 lots. The median Sean McSweeney work on paper sells for $888 across 18 lots. The median Sean McSweeney print sells for $3 across 1 lots. Small (under 50 cm) Sean McSweeney paintings typically sell for $27–$3,853 (the middle half of 69 sold lots). Medium (50–120 cm) Sean McSweeney paintings typically sell for $92–$7,848 (the middle half of 52 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 Sean McSweeney painting? Based on 124 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sean McSweeney painting is $2,158. 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 Sean McSweeney's most expensive painting? The highest price recorded at auction for a Sean McSweeney painting is $58,620. ### What is the average price of a Sean McSweeney work on paper? Based on 18 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Sean McSweeney work on paper is $888. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium. ### What is Sean McSweeney's most expensive work on paper? The highest price recorded at auction for a Sean McSweeney work on paper is $4,335. ### What is the average price of a small Sean McSweeney painting? Based on 69 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Sean McSweeney painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $1,863, 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 Sean McSweeney painting? Based on 52 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Sean McSweeney painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $3,436, 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 Sean McSweeney's auction record? Sean McSweeney's auction record is $58,620, set in 2008. --- Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly. Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Sean McSweeney auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/sean-mcsweeney-2 (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.