"I couldn’t believe it when I saw them": Great-grandad from Leighton Buzzard had no idea photos he had on his walls are rare shots worth thousands

Alan Knowles, 82, was gifted the framed photographs by cult classic photographers Graham Smith and Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen years ago.

He had hung them on his walls of his home in Leighton Buzzard – and had no idea the photographers had gone on to become famous.

Their works are now found in venues like the Tate Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Smith and Konttinen gifted Alan the photos in 1975 after he helped kick-start their careers through Northern Arts, an association set up to find natural talent.

TV antiques expert Irita Marriott made the shock find on a routine visit.

She said: "I couldn’t believe it when I saw them. The images are amazing - and valuable. Together they could achieve thousands of pounds under the hammer next week.

"Photographs by Smith and Konttinen are coveted. They’re held in permanent collections in some of the most famous museums in the world. Both of them created photographic works of art documenting life in northern England.

“I hope these photographs excel at auction because it will reward their owner, Alan Knowles. He helped Smith and Konttinen at the start of their careers.

"In the early 1970s Alan grant-aided them through Northern Arts, an arts association set up to nurture talent in the region. He was film officer. At the time he lived in Darlington and his patch covered Newcastle to Cumbria. He was one of the first students to do film studies at Durham’s Bede College.

“Smith and Konttinen gave him the photographs as a goodbye thank-you gift in 1975 when he joined the British Film Institute and moved to Leighton Buzzard.

"He never knew they’d become famous - until I discovered the photos on his wall. He was thrilled to find out they had done so well.

"His life’s work involved promoting the arts, film and regional theatres all over Britain. Now Alan, a great grandad, needs a little help.

"The works are being offered at auction by his wife, Helen, to help fund his care home costs. Alan is 82 now and he has been suffering with his health. I hope I can do him proud.”

Smith created a series of photographs throughout the 70s that showed working-class people in a modern, documentary-montage style.

His works set for auction include Old Man and Tyne Bridge; Corner Clothes Shop with Mary Quant advert; Boy holding a Mallard, and Seated Old Woman.

Finnish photographer Konttinen photographed and interviewed residents of the area’s terraced houses around Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Her works offered for sale include Striptease Knife Throwing, Hoppings; Girl on a Spacehopper, Byker, and Bird Watching.

The photographs will go under the hammer on May 16 at Irita Marriott Auctioneers and Valuers, Melbourne, Derbyshire.