A revered Nelson artist's private world has been put up for tender.

Trustees of Jane Evans' estate, Ainslie Riddoch and Diane McKinnon, both longtime friends of Evans, are selling the house and studio where the artist lived and worked.

The Russell St property is next door to the artist's restored cottage, bought by brother Bill Evans last month.

Evans, who died in June last year, is renowned for her colourful paintings, which are in collections around the world.

The house was built in 1878 for Captain Vickerman, and was bought by Evans in 1985.

She went on to completely renovate the building, cobbing the weatherboard and expanding the interior rooms, with help from architect Ian Athfield.

Mrs McKinnon said the property was being sold to distribute Evans' assets to those in her will.

She hoped the property would go to someone who would love it. "Someone who would really appreciate what had gone into the creation of it. It was so much a part of Jane's life and work."

Mrs McKinnon said she had been visiting since the 1980s, often spending hours drinking coffee in the breakfast nook, and had seen the house and garden transformed completely in that time.

"Jane was all about how things looked, the visual appeal of it. It was her own world."

Realtor Caroline Fletcher said the sale of the cottage last month had seen interest from a wide variety of potential buyers from all walks of life, and the sale of the house was the same.

"We had people from their mid-20s to mid-70s looking at the cottage, and from all around New Zealand, so we're thinking there might be similar interest here."

The tender process allowed people who may be thinking of using the house for another purpose, like an artist's retreat, to put together a proposal.

"You could get a family in here, a young family, or you could have an older person. We have a pretty open mind as to who buys it."

"It's a glimpse into quite a unique little world."

Tenders for the property will close on March 21. The house has a capital value of $510,000.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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