The paintings department is run by Jonathan Riley. Jonathan has curated many exhibitions of Modern British paintings during more than thirty five years in the industry. He has contributed to numerous auction catalogues and artists’ ‘introductions’. In 1999 he wrote part of the biography, ‘Bratby’ published by Old Bakehouse Publications, ‘Macara’ published in 2009 by Construction Arts, ‘Simeon Stafford’ published in 2010 and a biography of Alan Lowndes, published in 2010.

Asian art is currently one of the strongest sectors in the auction industry. With this in mind, Grand Auctions took on Robin Newcombe to run this department. Robin spent six years working in the valuations department at Christie’s in London and for him, Asian art is a passion. He is an expert in Chinese jades and ceramics as well as Japanese inros and netsukes.

Although Grand Auctions has had huge success within our specialist fields, we also have strong silver, ceramics, glassware and general departments. We set an auction record for ‘Spanish’ pattern William Moorcroft with a tea service that sold for £4,800 in May 2012. A beautiful example of Victorian taxidermy featuring some now extinct exotic birds also sold last year for £1,500. In September 2012 a pair of Staffordshire lion and lamb ceramic groups made £2,700.