AN oil painting of a North scene is expected to fetch thousands of pounds when it goes up for auction at a Lincoln saleroom.

Thomas Mawer and Son is offering the picture of Richmond, North Yorkshire, by Edmund Niemann, at an auction today, and anticipates significant interest.

Auctioneer Clinton Slingsby said: "This is a very attractive painting of Richmond.

"We had another of Lincoln by the same artist a few years ago, which made £4,500.

"We have estimated this painting to fetch between £2,000 and £4,500."

Niemann, who died in 1876, was known for his landscapes, angling and marine subjects.

Born in Islington, London, he worked at Lloyds, but after 1839, he devoted his time to art.

He exhibited at the Royal Academy and was appointed secretary of the Portland Gallery, in London's Regent Street.

Another of his paintings of Richmond Castle and the River Swale sold at auction at Sotheby's, in London, for £1,527 in May 2002.

The Thomas Mawer catalogue is available at www.thosmawer. co.uk. To bid, call (01522) 524984.