The mystery bidder, who bought an oil painting by renowned Bushey artist Lucy Kemp-Welch last week, has been revealed David Messum, chairman of Messum's Fine Art gallery in London, bought the painting for £20,625 at an auction on Wednesday, January 21, at Bonhams in London.

The 20in by 24in painting, called Moment's Rest, was exhibited in Paris in 1933 and at the Royal Academy in London in 1934.

On the back of the frame is a label with - possibly in Lucy Kemp-Welch's own handwriting - the artist's name and address in Bushey.

Mr Messum, who is also a patron of the Bushey Museum, said: "We have studied Lucy Kemp-Welch's paintings and even brought out two publications on it.

"She liked to paint working horses and thought it was very characterful."

Lucy became one of the most accomplished painters of horses during her lifetime, and she was even chosen to illustrate an edition of Black Beauty.

Mr Messum, who has done a series of exhibitions on the artist since 1975, now plans to get the painting cleaned and then sell it.