Ronnie Kray paintings up for sale

One of the seven pictures to go under the hammer

Seven paintings by gangster Ronnie Kray dating back to the early 1970s are to be sold by auctioneers in Suffolk.

The pictures, in oil on card and signed R. Kray, were painted when he was at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight.

Ronnie and his twin brother Reggie, ran a notorious gang in London's East End called The Firm during the 1950s and 1960s. They were both jailed in 1969.

The paintings, which have a guide price of £1,500 to £2,000, will go on sale at Mander Auctioneers on 26 July.

Ronnie Kray, who died in 1995 aged 61, took up painting while in prison and often painted the same scene.

Local connections

Auctioneer James Mander said: "These paintings are part of an important piece of modern social history."

It is thought that both brothers used their art work to barter with while in prison.

On the reverse of each picture is Ronnie's details and prison number along with the exact month and year they were painted and the official prison stamp.

The Krays had connections in Sudbury, Suffolk, and owned property in Bildeston, which may have been the inspiration for the cottage in some of the works, the auctioneers said.