Businessman

My father discovered that our family had made long-case clocks in Warwickshire in the early 18th century. He managed to track down a fine example through an English antiquarian and horologist and gifted it to me for my 30th birthday.

If I'm in the English countryside and get on my bicycle, I see what sort of strange inbred rural locals I can snap.

My dream, dream acquisition would probably be a Twombly chalkboard. I've been fortunate to see one or two in a private context, and I think it's just sort of quintessentially brilliant, timeless, modern.

I was given an eight-foot painting on a luminous yellow background as a parting gift when leaving Paris in 2008. I did not dare take it with me to N.Y.C. and understood that the cost of shipping would have far outweighed the cost of the work.

A great friend and mentor, Simon de Pury, invited me to be auctioneer at Phillips de Pury, which was a great honor.

I always have my lucky gavel in case I have to do an auction on short notice.

Artists will always depend on the brick-and-mortar ecosystem to establish authority and context.

I feel a strong connection to water, so, no matter the time of year, I always go for a swim.

In terms of wedding gifts, I like to buy people experiences.

I am never without my gavel, which I bought from an antique shop in Burford, in the Cotswolds.

I started my career at LVMH and then I joined Phillips de Pury under the tutelage of Simon de Pury as second auctioneer and head of marketing.

I just love the idea of being able to have a place where friends and family can meet, where you can raise everything from chickens to llamas, and, you know, have an artist residency.

We want to ensure works are placed with people who collect responsibly.

I'm a big believer in manners and respect: that one should never do to another what you wouldn't wish for yourself.

What you collect is the ultimate impartation of who you are. It's the archive of your identity - it's what you leave behind.

We're big believers that people can learn to collect through the eyes of great collectors.

I think when you're collecting, the best advice is just 'see see see see.' The more you get used to the nuances of the art world and what people are doing and whose opinion matters, the more you can tune your own collection and know that these are works that do count; these are artists that will be of relevance tomorrow.

I spent lots of time on drama, music and art.

Celebrity is not something I consciously pursue.

If I find an item of clothing I like, I tend to buy it in multiples.