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

# Valerie Thornton (1931–1991)

## What is Valerie Thornton’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 164 auction results for Valerie Thornton at 13 houses since 2003. Over the last 24 months the median price was $454 including buyer’s premium (middle half $316–$622, n=14). The auction record is $3,076 for Valerie Thornton (1931-1991) The Village, 1956/7 Signed Oil on canvas 61 x 76cm Provenance: The (2017, Woolley and Wallis). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

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

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valerie Thornton (1931-1991) The Village, 1956/7 Signed Oil on canvas 61 x 76cm Provenance: The | Oil on canvas | $3,076 | Woolley and Wallis | Jun 2017 |

**Top auction records: prints & editions**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eton College Chapel | Aquatint printed in colours | $1,713 | Roseberys London | Oct 2014 |
| 2 | Egyptian Pots, 1968 | Aquatint with etching printed in colours | $1,504 | Roseberys London | Oct 2014 |
| 3 | A Collection, 1982-86 | Engraving | $1,443 | Christie's | Sep 2010 |
| 4 | Cley, 1975 | Aquatint with etching printed in colours | $1,420 | Roseberys London | Oct 2014 |
| 5 | A Collection, 1989-90 | Etchings and aquatints in colours | $1,155 | Christie's | Sep 2010 |
| 6 | Vézelay, Interior, 1974 | Etching with aquatint printed in colours | $1,003 | Roseberys London | Oct 2014 |
| 7 | City, 1956 | Etching with aquatint printed in colours | $794 | Roseberys London | Oct 2014 |
| 8 | Sussex Place, 1931 | Hornton | $734 | Sworders | Jul 2025 |
| 9 | ▲ Valerie Thornton (1931-1991) | Etching | $734 | Sworders | Jul 2025 |

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

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Prints | 37 | $413 |

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

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 27 | $454 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 14 | $340 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 164 results from 13 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Valerie Thornton is a British (modern) artist with 137 auction lots recorded since 2003, median price $227. 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 Valerie Thornton sold in 2026 for $227, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Valerie Thornton work worth?

Across 121 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Valerie Thornton work is $227.

The median Valerie Thornton print sells for $192 across 149 lots.

The median Valerie Thornton work on paper sells for $197 across 6 lots.

The median Valerie Thornton painting sells for $478 across 3 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Valerie Thornton prints typically sell for $121–$308 (the middle half of 103 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Valerie Thornton prints typically sell for $77–$243 (the middle half of 44 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 | 160 | $192†‡ | $3,366‡ | 93.1% | 2026-07-17 |
| Paintings | 3 | $478† | $795† | — | 2022-05-26 |
| Works on Paper | 11 | $197†‡ | $672 | 54.5% | 2025-01-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 9 | $1,443†‡ | $3,366‡ | — | 2017-06-07 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

Valerie Thornton's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (160 lots) median $192 with 93.1% sell-through. Paintings (3 lots) median $478, record $795. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $795 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Valerie Thornton painting sells for around 2.5× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 9 lots) the median is $1,443.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 44 | $77–$243†‡ | $158†‡ | $1,155 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 103 | $121–$308†‡ | $195†‡ | $1,713 |

† 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) | 5 | $195–$236†‡ | $199†‡ | $672 |

† 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $3,366‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2014 | $1,713 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $795† |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $672 |
| Paintings | 2022 | $478† |
| Works on Paper | 2025 | $236† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

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

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 Valerie Thornton worth?

Across 121 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Valerie Thornton work is $227. The median Valerie Thornton print sells for $192 across 149 lots. The median Valerie Thornton work on paper sells for $197 across 6 lots. The median Valerie Thornton painting sells for $478 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Valerie Thornton prints typically sell for $121–$308 (the middle half of 103 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Valerie Thornton prints typically sell for $77–$243 (the middle half of 44 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 Valerie Thornton print?

Based on 149 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Valerie Thornton print is $192. 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 Valerie Thornton's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Valerie Thornton print is $3,366. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a Valerie Thornton work on paper?

Based on 6 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Valerie Thornton work on paper is $197. 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 Valerie Thornton's most expensive work on paper?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Valerie Thornton work on paper is $672.

### What is the average price of a medium Valerie Thornton print?

Based on 103 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Valerie Thornton print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $195, 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 small Valerie Thornton print?

Based on 44 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Valerie Thornton print (small (under 50 cm)) is $158, 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 Valerie Thornton's auction record?

Valerie Thornton's auction record is $3,366, set in 2014. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

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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, “Valerie Thornton auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/valerie-thornton (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.