Lyon & Turnbull, the expanding Edinburgh auctioneers who recently opened a London office, have hired a specialist in new contemporary art, Ben Hanly. He begins work next month ahead of the firm’s first contemporary art sale in September.

The auction is to include works by Eduardo Paolozzi, including a sculpture expected to get more than £50,000, and the painters John Boyd and Adrian Wiszniewski.

Mr Hanly said: “Contemporary is the biggest player financially in the art market internationally and the UK. Prices went up 40 per cent last year. There are huge opportunities at the moment. No other sector in the market is expanding at the same speed.”

The company aims to focus on Scottish, British and international contemporary art. It remains to be seen if cutting-edge contemporary Scottish work, such as films or installations, could reach high prices.

Posted: 05|20|06 at 8:31 am. Filed under: UK News.