I set up Warner-Johnson Art Advisory in 2017 following 20 years working in the commercial art world - first in the auction world at Christie’s and then for the Old Master dealership Colnaghi. Based in London, I work with a select number of private collectors and institutional clients, offering independent advice on all aspects of buying and selling art in the global marketplace.

I cover a wide range of collecting areas: I am anchored in the world of Old Masters, but my interests are wide-ranging, extending from classical antiquity through to contemporary art. I have an imaginative and creative approach to collecting art. I have co-curated shows on Old Masters and the relationship with modern art (Robert Mapplethorpe. Pictures, Bernheimer Fine Art, Munich, 2006) and contemporary sculpture (Berlinde de Bruyckere: We are all Flesh, Colnaghi/Hauser & Wirth, London, 2009). While it is undeniable that there are distinct periods and movements in art, I believe that over-compartmentalisation and division is no longer a useful way to approach collecting. This is a view shared by a new generation of art collectors and an approach I share whole-heartedly.

I am passionate about art and art collecting. I believe each transaction should be a memorable and pleasurable experience for the collector. To this end, every client - whether established or new to the market - should receive the highest level of service. This I can offer thanks to my in-depth specialist knowledge of the artwork and the marketplace, combined with thorough due diligence. My advice is objective and independent, my transactions transparent and fair. Only in this way can my clients be assured of the best possible outcome.

I offer my clients a unique, personalised and truly international service. I have experience of both the auction and dealer world, having lived and worked in New York, London and Italy. I also speak Italian, French and Spanish.

I was educated at Cambridge University where I studied Classics and Japanese, which created a passion for a wide range of art from classical antiquities to Japanese ceramics. Upon graduation, I lived in Italy for 6 years, travelling and studying Italian art of all periods from Classical Antiquity to modern times. After this I worked as specialist in the Old Master Paintings department at Christie’s in New York for 5 years with a particular interest in Italian pictures. In 2002 I joined Colnaghi, one of the oldest and most illustrious Old Master galleries in the history of the art market. From 2007 to 2017, I was Director of Colnaghi, where I oversaw all aspects of the business from buying to selling. I developed a reputation for my expertise and specialist knowledge, and for my transparent and straightforward approach in all business transactions. It is this approach that underpins Warner-Johnson Art Advisory.

Tim Warner-Johnson