About

Miles Barton has been professionally evaluating, researching and cataloguing a wealth of art and antiques for over thirty years. For the last twenty years he has focused on traditional pictures, largely portraiture and ‘old masters’. He has made a number of discoveries in this field some of which are now with national and international collections, such as the British Museum, London and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris. He has advised auction houses, public and private galleries, and written on matters associated with British history and art.

He has valued a diversity of collections, including the historic portraits at the Bishop of London’s residence, near St.Paul’s Cathedral; the contents of  the Gloucestershire home of John Entwhistle, bass guitarist of The Who; Oscar winning Hollywood Film Producer Sam Spiegel’s Academy Award for Lawrence of Arabia; and legendary British illustrator Ralph Steadman’s graphic art collection. He also organised a special exhibition of German film art at Sotheby’s, Berlin for the 48^th Berlin International Film Festival, having the previous year established, in conjunction with the legendary collector Jose ma Carpio, the very first auction of historic film posters for Sotheby’s in London.

Graduating with a degree in History & Art he first joined Phillips Auctioneers and several years later became a senior specialist with Sotheby’s in London. During this time he travelled extensively meeting with collectors, assessing items and advising on the advantages of buying and selling within the London art market, helping to create a number of headline auctions as a result. From this he went on to be part of team that advised and analysed the market for an online fine art information company as it established its web presence.

A life-long enthusiast of all manner of aspects associated with art and history, he has been the historical researcher for a number of period film and television productions, including Academy Award winner ‘The Madness of King George‘ where he worked closely with the acclaimed production designer Ken Adam. He has lectured at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art; acted as a specialist guide to the notable Victorian memorials at Highgate Cemetery; and assisted the Witt Library at the Courtauld Institute of Art, cataloguing the stock archive of famous art dealership Arthur Tooth & Son. It was here that he worked with the art historian John Sunderland, who encouraged his interest in British 18th century artists.  He is currently writing a book which will highlight the work of some of these more obscure British portrait painters whose work is often over looked and undervalued.

He is a member and supporter of The Georgian Group and the Walpole Society, amongst others.

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