Crossword Genius

Artist is in shock with valuation (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

appraisal

'valuation' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'artist is in shock' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'shock' becomes 'appal' (synonyms).
'ra'+'is'='rais'
'rais' going within 'appal' is 'APPRAISAL'.

'with' is the link.

(Other definitions for appraisal that I've seen before include "judgement" , "Evaluation - papal airs (anag)" , "judgment" , "rating" , "Formal assessment of an employee's performance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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