Meet the Specialist

What do you do at Bonhams?

I am the Department Director for Modern British & Irish Art in London. I am also a Scottish art specialist and work closely with colleagues in our Edinburgh saleroom.

Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the art world? 

I’m originally from Oundle in Northamptonshire, where I went to school. We had great art teachers and that’s where my love of art was born. I wanted to combine my academic background in History and History of Art with the thrill of a fast-paced business environment so the auction world seemed like the perfect fit.

What was your first job? 

I started as a Graduate Trainee in the Valuations Department at Christie’s, King Street. I was able to get a flavour for most specialist areas and really focus on what interested me. It also taught me to work quickly and methodically with different people, which is so important in our business.

 Name one of your triumphs.

One of my favourite memories from working at Bonhams includes discovering Paul Nash’s "A Drawing" in 2014. It was an early and large work whose colours had been perfectly preserved as it had remained in a dark corner and belonged to the same family since its original purchase in 1913! It is the current auction record for a work on paper by the artist at £212,500. Another highlight was also bringing to the market one of the finest collections of Scottish Colourist pictures in the past decade, which was 100% sold and achieved over £1 million. These kind of sales are so satisfying not only for the prices – we had some very happy vendors as you can imagine – but the complete experience. Outside of the auction world, I always enjoy working with museums; helping to secure museum loans for major exhibitions - such as David Hockney at Tate - is always incredibly rewarding as you know they are going to be enjoyed and help educate and inspire so many people.

What has changed in your field since you first started?

There has been a marked rise in demand for sculpture, and we have secured some major prices for works on paper too – setting world records for works by Paul Nash and John Minton. I’d say the biggest change, though, has been the growth in international appeal. Names such as Moore, Hepworth, Nicholson, Hockney are now collected by people around the world and this has also trickled down to some previously lesser known names.

What is your strength as a specialist? 

My favourite part of the job is engaging with our clients about the artwork and with over a decade of experience in this area, I like to think I am in a good position to give them the information they want and need. I am happiest on my feet during our auction view in the saleroom.

What should collectors look out for in your next sale?

We have two fascinating works intimately linked to the Bloomsbury Group. A portrait of the novelist E.M. Forster by the art historian and painter Roger Fry, and a rare self-portrait by Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf’s sister and at one time Fry’s lovers, who is rightly regarded as one of the Group’s finest artists. The popular image of the Bloomsbury Group’s complicated love lives sometimes overshadows their achievements. But, as these two works show, they were at the heart of the key artistic and literary movements of their day and made a lasting contribution to the nation’s cultural life.

Do you have a hidden talent? 

I used to play tennis and swim to county standard, but that was a long time ago!

Which work of art has changed your life? 

The Early Renaissance was fascinating to me when I was younger and provides an excellent foundation for learning but nowadays, as a father to three girls I find myself particularly drawn to Michael Andrews’ "Melanie and Me Swimming" in Tate Britain.

Chris Dawson is Director of the Modern British & Irish Art Department in London. He can be reached at christopher.dawson@bonhams.com