Tom studied Fine Art Valuation at Southampton University and joined Phillips auction house in Mayfair in 2001, subsequently bought by Bonhams. He then worked his way up to becoming a specialist at Christies auction house in Knightsbridge concentrating on 18th and 19th century furniture and works of art. Tom goes on to explain ‘The auction world was a fantastic unregulated industry caught in a time warp where academics mixed with bohemians and millionaires bought from people with fortunate taste. It really was gentlemen playing at businessmen. It opened a privileged world where I was able to bid on Napoleon’s writing desk, manhandle stuffed polar bears, helping with specialist military auctions and kimonos in Japanese museums and seeing priceless artworks that will probably never see the light of day from their free port storage.’

He continues ‘It was a very constructive grounding in how to deal with affluent clients and to manage the pressures of selling high value property. The facets of managing people’s expectations, understanding the emotional connection with historical items and the financial administration were so much more useful than much of the learning at university. Most staff started through work experience or portering, which is an amazing way of discovering the different departments and learning how to handle art. It’s also a solid way of learning teamwork and the connections you make there will last a lifetime.’

Tom explains that one of his more memorable experiences was being greeted by a butler in a large mansion situated in South Kensington. He was led down through the subterranean car storage, back up through the squash courts and ushered into a large ballroom. I was expecting to look at some period furniture but the client took great delight in showing off his antique truncheon collection!

He goes on to talk about his thoughts on the auction world, ‘It’s now a far more professional industry with high levels of due diligence and training. It has to be, as attributions of artworks become more scrutinised with increasing levels of litigation.’

After becoming a Fine Art insurance broker, Tom has been privileged to arrange cover ranging from collections valued in the billions to antique erotica, as well as insure rarefied artworks such as light installations. He quips ‘Who knew you could insure the calculations for projecting light?!’ and continues, ‘The London and Lloyds markets can be a pressurised environment but it’s rewarding and offers good opportunities, such as graduate schemes with the larger insurers and brokers.’

Tom concludes that he looks fondly upon his time at Hurst as it really taught him to look at all options and not necessarily follow the standard path. Particularly now as he is helping his wife Natalie, who he met in the art market, open a boutique bed & breakfast in Hove called Lansdowne House!