LONDON.- Adrian Biddell comes to Olympia Auctions with considerable experience, having worked for 27 years in Sotheby’s, first in the Impressionist department for more than a decade, after which he ran the 19th century European paintings department for 16 years. He also ran Paintings and Fine Art at Chiswick Auctions with great success from 2019 – 2021.

Under his direction, Olympia Auctions’ British and Continental Paintings and Works on Paper department will be doubling their picture auctions with two mid-season sales in the spring (22nd March) and autumn, and two Fine sales in the summer (14th June) and winter. Adrian succeeds Harry Moore-Gwyn who will continue to play a significant role, supporting the sales with his expertise in Modern British pictures among other areas.

In the June and December Fine sales the department is looking to feature up to 100 lots from Old Masters to the 20th century, estimated from £1,000 - £50,000. Adrian comments: ‘As tastes are ever more eclectic and collectors increasingly drawn to image and quality, it’s a very good moment to develop a select yet inclusive format for our two annual Fine sales. Both auctions will be cross category, featuring works from all periods and include paintings alongside works on paper. We are looking for exceptional pieces, sale defining consignments to further invigorate the market. Works already in the sale range from Italian Old Master Andrea Locatelli to British 20th century painter Christopher Nevinson. Olympia Auctions not only offers an absolutely prime location for attracting leading consignments, but appeals hugely to our very active and buoyant buyer base, located as we are in the heart of West Kensington.’

Janet Rady will be running the new Modern & Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art Auctions.

Janet holds a Masters Degree in Islamic Art History from the University of Melbourne, and a BA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

She has extensive industry experience, spanning over thirty-five years from her time at leading auction houses and major commercial galleries, most recently running the Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern and African Art department at Chiswick Auctions from 2020 – 2023.

Janet comments ‘I am excited to be joining Olympia Auctions as a specialist in African and Middle Eastern art. The auction market for both categories is witnessing very strong sales with an emphasis on high quality Modern and Contemporary works by young, mid-career and blue-chip artists. Olympia Auctions is well placed to offer these works at auction, having an established collector base in these areas. For our next sale on 11th May, we will be taking works including paintings, works on paper, prints and sculpture by artists from Iran, the Arab world, Maghreb and all regions in Africa. Pre-sale estimates will start from £300.’

Janet will be in charge of two Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art Auctions a year, in the spring and autumn. The first auction will take place on 11th May 2023.

Maryam Daoudi joins Adrian Biddell as assistant and junior cataloguer in the British and Continental Paintings and Works of Art department. Maryam started her journey in the arts working in commercial and non-profit cultural organisations with a focus on Contemporary Art. She held an internship at Olympia Auctions and subsequently worked at Chiswick Auctions in both the Modern and Contemporary African and Middle Eastern Art, and 19th and 20th Century Photographs departments.

Thomas Del Mar for Olympia Auctions adds ‘We are very pleased to welcome Adrian, Janet and Maryam to our team at Olympia Auctions. Adrian’s great experience will be invaluable in taking the department to the next level which has been so successfully developed by Harry Moore-Gwyn who will continue with us as a much-valued consultant. I am also excited to be expanding into the area of African and Middle Eastern Art with an expert of Janet’s standing.’