PAINTINGS by gangster Reggie Kray are due to go under the hammer next Wednesday, May 27, at a Northwich auction house.

Reggie and his brother Ronnie, who ran a gang in London’s East End in the 1950s and 1960s, were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 1969.

Ronnie remained in Broadmoor Hospital until his death in 1995, and Reggie was released from prison on compassionate grounds in 2000, just eight weeks before his death from cancer.

Thirty paintings produced by Reggie while in prison, including floral and still life watercolours, and mountain and lake scenes in oils, go up for sale at Northwich Auction Centre in Runcorn Road, Barnton.

The paintings include one of a farmhouse scene in Provence, and another possibly of his mother Violet, who died in 1982.

Also up for sale is Reggie’s art box, complete with prison stamps, and a pair of boxing gloves signed by Reggie and Charles Bronson, who is regarded as Britain’s most dangerous prisoner.

In addition there is a boxing cup won by Reggie, a cigarette box given to him by his mother and a prison Bible.

Included in the items owned by Reggie are pencil sketches by Charles Bronson, one of which depicts Bronson staring through the viewing window of an isolation cell.

Next to the door is a plaque on the wall which reads – Bronson 1314 Life – and on the corridor floor lies a book entitled – Love Poems, Charles Bronson.

Also featured in the auction is an album owned by Reggie of numerous boxing bill posters signed by Dave ‘Boy’ Green, a former British welterweight boxing champion.

“All the items are signed, and have come in together from an antique dealer who is about to move to this area,” said sale room manager and valuer Irana Plant.

“Reggie Kray was a gifted amateur artist, but the items would probably not have been put up for sale if they had been by anyone else.

“The sale could attract some people because of morbid fascination with someone so infamous, and we expect the art box and the boxing gloves to attract the most interest.”

She said the watercolours are estimated to fetch £80 each, the oils between £200 and £300 each, and the art box and boxing gloves between £300 and £500 each.

There are also two watches believed to have belonged to the Kray twins. The auction starts at 10am, and viewing is tomorrow, Sunday, from 10am to 2pm, and next Tuesday from 10am to 5pm.