Two Minutes With... William Porter, Department Head, British & Irish Art

How did you become involved with Modern British Pictures?
With an art history background, I started my Christie’s career as a porter in the King Street 20th Century British Art department and then when a position as Junior Specialist came up at South Kensington I jumped at the chance. Since I first started looking at paintings at school I have always been interested in modern and contemporary art, however I do think that British art, in particular, is visually more accessible and certainly more affordable than many other areas. Of course, I may be slightly biased!

Where in the world have your pictures taken you?
As the category might suggest, working with these pictures has taken me the length and breadth of Britain! However, British art has long since been of great interest to the U.S. market and we do source from and sell to American collectors. We are also seeing increasing continental interest in British pictures as the importance of this category is being recognized within the market place.

What is the most exciting picture you have ever sold in one of your sales at South Kensington?
Rather than a single picture I would have to choose a whole collection. In 2006 we sold Peter Nahum’s collection of British Surrealist and Avant-Garde art from 1930-1951 under the title of The Poetry of Crisis. We were able to work closely with Peter himself and benefit from his wealth of experience and enthusiasm. If I had to choose one work from this collection it would be Sir Terry Frost’s Moon Quay which realized £153,600, which was inspired by his daily walks around St. Ives harbour.

Why should people buy their Modern British Pictures at South Kensington?
Above all, it is the diversity of the pieces on offer, from very traditional paintings to contemporary installations, all of which fall within a varied bracket, with estimates starting at £500. South Kensington offers the opportunity to acquire works of art by artists that are still emerging onto the auction market. Many of these artists’ reputations are growing and so do offer the added bonus of potentially increasing in value over time.

Do you have any words of wisdom for clients who might be looking to sell their Modern British Pictures?
Absolutely. Over the last two to three years we have witnessed a dramatic increase in demand for particular periods or movements in 20th Century British Art. Some of these increases have happened very suddenly and so I would advise potential vendors to keep a close eye on the market and indeed if in any doubt to please get in touch for any advice that we may be able to give.