The Sworders Team

Guy Schooling
Chairman

Chairman and auctioneer at Sworders. Guy has over 30 years experience in the world of fine art and auctioneering. His passions lie with English furniture and the Arts & Crafts Movement. He is available to undertake valuations of single items or entire collections.

T: 01279 817778
E: guyschooling@sworder.co.uk

John Black ASFAV
Director 20th Century Decorative Art & Design

John has a degree in Art History augmented by a one year course at Christies, and has 20 years auction room experience. An integral member of our team he has a broad knowledge of the decorative arts, however his principal interest lies in 20th Century Design. John runs our successful Decorative Art and Design sales, held three times a year.

T: 01279 817778
E: johnblack@sworder.co.uk

Paul Martin
Managing Director

Paul joined Sworders 5 years ago after a career in the finance industry. He spent 15 years as a partner with Price Bailey, and finished by running their Guernsey Office. His association with Sworders goes back nearly 30 years and with auction rooms to even earlier, as his father was an antique dealer and he grew up in the industry.  

T: 01279 817778
E: paulmartin@sworder.co.uk

Luke Macdonald
Director

Luke joined after thirteen years with Cheffins, as Head of Furniture and Operations Director, where he secured and handled major consignments and estates. He joins Sworders as a member of the board, his role includes business development, he has a long and distinguished record for attracting high-quality consignments from all over the country.

T: 01279 817778
E: lukemacdonald@sworder.co.uk 

Daniel Webster
Head of Hertford Office

Daniel is an auctioneer and valuer with over 25 years of experience in the world of auctioneering. He started his career at a regional saleroom in Essex and has now moved back to the provinces after working at a London auctioneers for 21 years. He heads our Hertford office and has a broad knowledge of antique market with special interests in furniture and the Arts and Crafts Period.

T: 01992 583 508
E: danielwebster@sworder.co.uk

Frank Barnett
Saleroom Manager

Frank has been with Sworders for over eight years, managing and coordinating our salerooms. He has a natural flair for interior design and oversees the presentation of our sales. He previously worked at Bonhams and Phillips, bringing a wealth of experience in the antiques trade.

T: 01279 817778
E: frankbarnett@sworder.co.uk

Andrew Bowyer
Paintings

Andrew gained his extensive experience and knowledge at Phillips and Sothebys in London and has been involved in cataloguing and valuing work in various parts of the world, and in fields as diverse as Old Master painting, English watercolours and 20th Century British art.

T: 01279 817778
E: fineart@sworder.co.uk

Dick Burge
Fine Wine

After many years as a wine enthusiast, Dick co-founded a wine importing business in 1982, selling this ten years ago. He is non-executive chairman of a large regional wine merchant and has been associated with Sworders for five years.

T: 01279 817778
E: finewine@sworder.co.uk

Paul Fox
Homes & Interiors and Fine Wine

Paul joined the team in 2013 as a saleroom assistant. He quickly expanded his roles into our Fine Wine sales and running much of the logistics of the saleroom. A graduate in Furniture Restoration at London Metropolitan University, he previously worked as a picture framer before going on to work in a London gallery prior to Sworders.

T: 01279 817778
E: paulfox@sworder.co.uk

Briony Harford
Auctioneer and Valuer

AAfter graduating with a Master’s degree in Fine and Decorative Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Briony worked for several London auction houses as head auctioneer and head of paintings before joining Sworders as a general valuer. She also worked as an art advisor for private collectors and has a keen interest in Modern British and Contemporary Art. Briony forms an integral part of the Homes & Interiors team providing valuation and sales advice.

T: 01992 583508
E: brionyharford@sworder.co.uk

Luan Grocholski
Asian Art 

T: 01279 817778
E: luangrocholski@sworder.co.uk

Alex Froggatt
Cataloguer and Valuer

Alex is an auctioneer & valuer who has been involved in the world of art and antiques since the age of 15 and has specialist knowledge in glass. Alex works as part of the team in our Hertford Office undertaking regular house visits to carry out valuations for inheritence tax, insurance and sale.

T: 01279 817778
E: alexfroggatt@sworder.co.uk

Michael Kousah
Books

Michael has been in the book trade for well over thirty years. During that time he ran his own bookshop in Ely for fourteen years. He was one of the UK's first Founding/Associate members on the Sotheby's online auction site and for many years a member of the P.B.F.A.

T: 01279 817778
E: rarebooks@sworder.co.uk

Yexue Li 
Asian Art 

Yexue joined our Asian Art department in 2013, after graduating with a Master’s degree in East Asian Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. 

T: 01279 817778
E: yexueli@sworder.co.uk

James Pickup
Fine Interiors

James is an auctioneer and valuer with ten years of auction room experience to add to a lifetime of interest in art and antiques. He heads the quarterly Fine Interiors sale and is a firm advocate of mixing fine traditional and decorative antiques, believing that thoughtful design and good craftsmanship never go out of fashion!

T: 01279 817778
E: jamespickup@sworder.co.uk

Tony Salani
Coins, Homes and Interiors

Tony joined Sworders in December 2016 having previously worked in salerooms around the country and been involved in the Art and Antiques industry for over 15 years. He is a general valuer and auctioneer for the fortnightly Homes & Interiors sales, with specialist knowledge of Musical Instruments and Coins.

T: 01279 817778
E: tonysalani@sworder.co.uk 

Amy Scanlon
Paintings

Amy gained a BA (Hons) degree in History of Art at University College London, followed by three years in a leading London art gallery before joining Sworders.  She now leads our picture department with a special emphasis on Modern British and 20^th Century Art.

T: 01279 817778
E: amyscanlon@sworder.co.uk

Catriona Smith - R.J. Dip, FIRV 76194 NAJ’s Institute of Registered Valuers, Fellow
Head of Jewellery

Catriona has been in the jewellery trade for over 35 years, spending 15 years working for the crown jewellers, Mappin and Webb. She is a registered valuer with the National Association of Jewellers, who through her knowledge and enthusiasm has overseen a huge expansion in our jewellery sales.

T: 01279 817778
E: jewellery@sworder.co.uk

Tim Turner
Senior Valuer

Tim is an auctioneer and valuer with more than 30 years experience in the antiques and auction profession. He has been with Sworders for 27 years. He has also been a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for 20 years. 

T: 01279 817778
E: timturner@sworder.co.uk

Clive Welch
Consultant Valuer

Clive is a 4th generation valuer and auctioneer, brought up in a multi-practice family business and now specialising in valuations for insurance and probate.

T: 01279 817778
E: clivewelch@sworder.co.uk 

Mark Wilkinson
Out of the Ordinary Sales 

Mark joined Sworders in 2017 having previously worked for Christies for 31 years and Bonhams for 2 years. During his time at Christie’s Mark helped to devise the ground-breaking Interiors sales, moving to Bonhams in 2015 to work his magic as European Head of Decorative Arts. He now heads up our ‘Out of The Ordinary’ sales, an eclectic mix of art and antiques with a wow factor, and acts as our Kent representative. 

T: 01279 817778
E: markwilkinson@sworder.co.uk

Jane Oakley
Paintings

With 20 years auction experience, Jane comes to us from Sotheby's where she was a director in the British Art Post 1850 Department and head of Scottish Art. She has a broad knowledge of British and Continental paintings and was previously head of the Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite and British Impressionist, Maritime and Sporting Art departments at Christie's.

T: 01279 817778
E: janeoakley@sworder.co.uk

Kirstie Imber
Modern and Contemporary Prints

Kirstie has 15 years’ experience in the art world, including specialist roles in the Print and Topographical department at Christies, where she was responsible for cataloguing, researching and assisting a number of important single-owner print sales. She has also held roles at The British Museum and the Royal College of Art and has lectured widely on 20th Century British Art. Kirstie holds a PhD in History of Art.

T: 01279 817778
E: kirstieimber@sworder.co.uk

Alexander Hallett
Auctioneer and Valuer

Alexander is an auctioneer and valuer who began his career at Duke’s as a saleroom assistant in between terms at the University of Manchester, where he attained a BA(Hons) in Ancient History. He worked at Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers in the North West before joining Sworders’ Fine Interiors department, and has an interest in Works of Art, Furniture and Asian Art.

T: 01279 817778
E: alexanderhallett@sworder.co.uk 

Stephen Giles
Head of Sworders London

A former Director of Jewellery with international auction rooms in London and Geneva, Stephen joins to oversee business development from our London Gallery. Whilst his principal expertise lies with fine jewellery and watches, Stephen has an extensive broadly based knowledge including Chinese works of art, English furniture and ceramics. 

T: 020 3971 2500
E: stephengiles@sworder.co.uk 

Catherine Scantlebury
Fine Wine Administration

Catherine joined the Sworders administrative team in 2018, bringing with her over 20 years experience of the auction industry. She supports Sworders' Wine Specialist, Dick Burge, in running the Fine Wine & Port Sales.

T: 01279 817778
E: catherinescantlebury@sworder.co.uk

Jane Watkins
PA to Guy Schooling 

Jane has worked with Guy as his Personal Assistant since 2003, with a special interest in the Valuation Department and promoting Sworders by taking the stand to exhibitions. When she is not working, Jane has a great interest in dressage, both as a rider and a judge and enjoys walking her dog at lunchtime as we have a kennel here at the Auction Rooms.

T: 01279 817778
E: janewatkins@sworder.co.uk

Jacqueline Travell
Homes and Interiors and Jewellery Administrator

T: 01279 817778
E: jacquelinetravell@sworder.co.uk

Victoria Emmings
Homes and Interiors Sales Administrator

T: 01279 817778
E: victoriaemmings@sworder.co.uk

Diane Baynes
Specialist Catalogues Co-ordinator

Diane has been at Sworders for nine years and co-ordinates production of the majority of the specialist sales catalogues, from lotting up and checking over proofs, to uploading the sales on to the websites.  She provides administration support for John Black, Director, and can also be spotted on the rostrum assisting the auctioneers on sale days.

T: 01279 817778
E: dianebaynes@sworder.co.uk

Claire Hayter
Marketing & Events 

Claire splits her time between the Stansted Saleroom and the Hertford office and is responsible for all print advertising and the organistion of valuation events nationwide.

T: 01992 583508
E: clairehayter@sworder.co.uk

Emma McCann
London Gallery Manager (Maternity Leave Until January 2021)

Emma joined the Sworders team in March 2017. Previously responsible for digital marketing and PR at the Stansted Mountfitchet head office, she now manages the day to day running of Sworders’ new London Gallery in Cecil Court, ensuring the efficient delivery of client services and overseeing a dynamic preview and events schedule.

T: 020 3971 2500
E: emmamccann@sworder.co.uk

Stephen Thomas
Photography

T: 01279 817778
E: stephenthomas@sworder.co.uk

Sylvia Ewen
Picture Department Assistant 

Sylvie joined Sworders after gaining a first class degree in History of Art from the University of Kent.  Sylvie assists the picture department in photography and organising the printed and online catalogues. Sylvie is an accomplished ballet dancer and pianist.

T: 01279 817778
E: sylviaewen@sworder.co.uk