University lecturer spared jail after forging artwork to sell at auction

Sheridan Tandy, 68, said he tried to sell the faked artwork because he was short of cash
Spared jail: University lecturer Sheridan Tandy
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Jamie Bullen7 December 2015

A cash-strapped university lecturer was spared jail after he admitted forging a number of art prints that he later attempted to auction off.

Sheridan Tandy, 68, of Taunton, Somerset, faked the artwork, known as ‘Grosvenor School’ prints, using his expertise and years of knowledge working in print and art.

In October last year, he sold four prints, also known as linocuts, through his local auction house, Lawrence’s of Crewkerne in Somerset, at a profit of £5,000.

However, suspicions were raised over the validity of the art in March when three linocuts received for valuation were inspected by an expert at Bonham’s Auction House.

The expert contacted Scotland Yard's Art and Antiques Unit after the linocuts appeared to be so recent they still smelt of paint.

Fake: One of the forged prints Tandy attempted to auction off
Met Police

Documentation authenticating the prints, known as provenance, was also disjointed and irregular.

If genuine, the works would have had a combined value of more than £6,000.

Police inquiries revealed another print had been consigned to Sotheby’s Auction House.

Met officers attended Tandy’s home where he was arrested on suspicion of fraud.

He admitted the offences and told police he produced the prints to sell because he was short of cash.

Tandy, who graduated from the Royal College of Art and has held teaching positions at the University of East London in an online profile: "My passion is collecting fine examples of decorative arts, art and design."

On Monday, he received a six month suspended sentence at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to forging a number of art prints, which he sold or attempted to sell at auction.

DC Ray Swan, of the Met’s Art & Antiques unit, said: "Tandy is a retired academic and art lecturer who used a lifetime of knowledge and expertise within the art market to produce forged linocut prints, some of which he managed to sell.

“The Met's Art & Antiques unit works closely with London auction houses, museums and galleries to ensure that genuine collectors are not defrauded in this way."

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