Collectors guide to David Hockney's Arrival of Spring

© Malcolm Park / Alamy Stock Photo

WHAT IS ARRIVAL OF SPRING IN WOLDGATE?
A landmark series by David Hockney
David Hockney's The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire is a series of 61 digital drawings created on an iPad in 2011. Depicting the changing Yorkshire countryside, the works document the transition from winter to spring through observations of light, colour and seasonal change.

Read more about the history of the series in our Arrival of Spring from market release to 2025 article.

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The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate: Edition Sizes and Structure

Understanding the series editon sizes

This table summarises the edition sizes, dimensions, numbering structure, signatures, and known proof information for David Hockney's Arrival of Spring in Woldgate print series.

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate	Details
Regular Editions	55 × 41.5 inches Edition of 25 One printed sheet 49 works
Large Format Editions	93 × 70 inches Edition of 10 Four printed sheets 12 works
Edition Structure	Numbered individually (e.g. 1/25, 1/10, etc.)
Proofs	No documented Artist's Proofs (AP), Printer's Proofs (PP), or Hors Commerce (HC) impressions are currently known to the market.
Edition Structure	Numbered individually (e.g. 1/25, 1/10, etc.)
Certificates of Authenticity	No certificates of authenticity were issued on initial release.

© ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

WHAT IS THE PRICE RANGE FOR ARRIVAL OF SPRING PRINTS?

As of 2026, most David Hockney Arrival of Spring in Woldgate prints typically trade between £200,000 and £350,000, although particularly desirable images, large-format editions and exceptional examples can achieve significantly higher prices.

Following a period of rapid price growth and increased market activity, the series underwent a rebalancing phase during late 2025 and early 2026. As seller expectations adjusted and price variance began to narrow, a new market equilibrium emerged. Prior to the dedicated Sotheby's auctions, many works traded privately between £150,000 and £250,000.

Following the auctions and increased market transparency, most transactions have clustered within the £200,000 to £350,000 range, while some sellers continue to seek prices above £350,000 for particularly strong examples.

Read Our Analysis: David Hockney Arrival of Spring 2025-2026 Market Shift
DO LARGE-FORMAT Arrival of Spring prints COST MORE?

Understanding the difference...

"I had always planned to make a large painting of the early spring... but the arrival of spring can't be done in one picture."

- David Hockney

In many cases, yes. A select group of Arrival of Spring images were produced as large-format editions measuring 93 × 70 inches and limited to editions of 10, compared to the standard editions of 25. Only 12 images were released in the large format, resulting in just 120 large-scale prints in existence.

Of these 12 images, nine were also issued in the regular format, while three were produced exclusively as large-format editions: The Arrival of Spring, 18th December, 2011, The Arrival of Spring, 29th December, 2011, No. 1 and The Arrival of Spring, 29th December, 2011, No. 2. Their greater scarcity, combined with their scale and visual impact, often makes large-format works particularly desirable to collectors. However, value will also depend on the specific image, condition, provenance and prevailing market demand.
Victoria Jones ©Alamy

Where can I buy David Hockney Arrival of Spring prints?

David Hockney's Arrival of Spring in Woldgate prints can be purchased through major auction houses, private sales and specialist dealers such as Geist. Auction houses, including Sotheby's and Christie's, offer works from the series, although availability can be limited and individual images may only appear infrequently, while specialist dealers can provide access to prints that are not publicly available.

If you would like to get in touch about a specific Arrival of Spring work, you can do so below.

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Arrival of Spring in Woldgate: Signature and Numbering

Signature and postioning by edition type

This table compares the signature placement, numbering format, and identifying characteristics of David Hockney's Arrival of Spring in Woldgate standard editions (edition of 25) and large-format editions (edition of 10).

The Arrival of Spring	Standard Edition (Edition of 25)	Large-Format Edition (Edition of 10)
Edition Size	25	10
Signature Location	Lower right margin	Within the image itself on the bottom right
Date Mark	Some have "'11" alongside the signature and some have 2011	May vary by work
Edition Number Location	Lower left margin (e.g. 1/25)	Varies by work
Placement	Signature and numbering appear outside the image area	Signature incorporated into the composition
Signature Colour	Grey Pencil	Grey Pencil

Examples of Arrival of Spring signatures
- Regular Edition signature
- Large edition signature
- Regular Edition signature
The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, 19th February 2011

iPad drawing printed on paper

55in x 41.5 In, Edition of 25

©David Hockney

THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING CONDITION GUIDE
WHAT CONDITION ISSUES SHOULD COLLECTORS LOOK FOR?
As The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate reaches its 15th year, condition is becoming an increasingly important factor. When assessing a work, collectors should look for:

• Light exposure and colour fading
• Frame damage
• Handling marks
• Signature fading

It's important to note that some changes naturally occur as works on paper age. Slight buckling or waviness, for example, is not necessarily a flaw but a characteristic of the medium that should be considered when assessing condition.

For more information, read our guide to caring for works on paper, featuring advice from conservation specialists. If you have any questions about the condition or conservation, please get in touch below.
ARRIVAL OF SPRING MARKET DATA AND RESEARCH
Explore currently available works, Market analysis and auction results
ARRIVAL OF SPRING COLLECTOR FAQs

How many Arrival of Spring prints exist?

A total of 1,345 David Hockney Arrival of Spring prints were produced. The series comprises 49 standard-edition images, each published in an edition of 25 (1,225 prints), and 12 large-format images, each published in an edition of 10 (120 prints).

Which Arrival of Spring prints are the rarest?

The rarest individual images in David Hockney's The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire series are The Arrival of Spring, 18th December, 2011, The Arrival of Spring, 29th December, 2011, No. 1, and The Arrival of Spring, 29th December, 2011, No. 2. These works were published exclusively as large-format editions of 10 and were never released in the standard edition of 25.

Are Arrival of Spring prints signed?

Yes, all prints from The Arrival of Spring series are signed and dated.

WHAT IS THE AUCTION RECORD FOR DAVID HOCKNEY'S ARRIVAL OF SPRING?

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, 19th February, 2011 currently holds the record at £762,000. You can see all auction results for the series here.

What size are Arrival of Spring prints?

David Hockney's The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire, prints were published in two sizes. The standard editions measure 55 × 41.5 inches and were issued in editions of 25, while the large-format editions measure 93 × 70 inches and were issued in editions of 10.
DISCLAIMER:

This collector's guide has been prepared by Geist Holdings Ltd for informational and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or collecting advice and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for any purchasing, selling, or collecting decision. Collectors should conduct their own independent research and seek appropriate professional advice where necessary. All information, pricing references, edition details, market observations, and auction results contained within this guide are based on sources believed to be reliable, including public auction records, private market transactions, and internal research. However, Geist Holdings Ltd makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. The art market is inherently subjective and illiquid. Values may fluctuate significantly based on provenance, condition, rarity, market conditions, timing of sale, and other factors beyond the control of Geist Holdings Ltd. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and there can be no assurance that any artwork will achieve similar prices in the future. Where private sales, estimates, or unpublished market information are referenced, such information is provided for contextual purposes only and may not be independently verifiable. Any opinions expressed are those of Geist Holdings Ltd at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Geist Holdings Ltd, its directors, employees, and affiliates may from time to time hold, buy, sell, or broker artworks discussed within this guide and may therefore have a financial interest in the markets referenced.