Start Exploring
I often recommend starting with auction catalogues. Auctions are a great entry point because there’s so much variety and a wide range of price points. You can look without pressure, learn at your own pace and start to see patterns in what draws your eye.
Old catalogues can be just as useful as current ones. Looking back helps you build an instinct for:
- artists you return to
- materials you’re drawn to
- the scale and presence of works you respond to
Alongside that, I’d always encourage people to visit as many exhibitions and spaces as possible. Seeing work installed, rather than just on a page or online, opens your eyes to different ways of displaying art, unexpected pairings and artists you might not otherwise have considered.
My Dream Artwork
If I could choose any artwork to live with, it would be Joana Vasconcelos’ swimming pool at Jupiter Artland. It’s site-specific, so sadly not something I could ever bring home but it’s an installation I never stop thinking about.
I first encountered Vasconcelos’ work at Manchester Art Gallery, where she created extraordinary responses to the building itself including crochet interventions along the staircase. Her work is playful, bold, and ambitious, from the famous feathered helicopter referencing Marie Antoinette to more intimate installations.
At Jupiter Artland, the swimming pool combines two things I love: water and art. The idea of a swimming pool that is also a work of art feels like a dream.
Artists I’d Love in My Home
There are a few artists I’m particularly drawn to. On the more traditional Scottish art side, Charles Oppenheimer is a favourite. His work has a quiet strength and presence that really rewards time spent with it. From a more contemporary perspective, I’d love to live with a strong piece by Pat Douthwaite, expressive, characterful, and emotionally direct.
One of the things I enjoy most about working on contemporary art sales is the range. You’re constantly encountering different objects, approaches and artists experimenting with materials and ideas. That variety brings with it a wide mix of collectors too.
Another part of the job I love is uncovering the stories behind the works. How seemingly unrelated pieces connect, where they’ve come from, and how they’ve lived before arriving with us. Learning about provenance and listening to clients’ stories is a constant source of discovery and makes me regularly evaluate the work I love.
Curating a space with contemporary art isn’t about rules or trends. It’s about looking carefully, trusting your instincts, and allowing your taste to develop over time. If you stay curious and open the connections, between artists, objects, and your own space, tend to follow naturally.
