THE abiding popularity of paintings by Sir John Lavery was confirmed last week in London at the sale of modern British-pictures by Phillips. A 1924 canvas by the artist of the Kerry Hills went way beyond the expected price of £5,000-£7,000 to make £17,250. Four Donegal views by Roland Hill also did well in this auction, two of them making £1,725 each while the others sold for £1,380 and £977.