On Tuesday 10 March, Dreweatts will present the collection of Dame Stephanie “Steve” Shirley CH (1933-2025) in a landmark single-owner auction, sold to benefit Autistica, the UK’s leading autism research and campaigning charity, founded by her in 2004. Spanning modern art, sculpture, studio pottery, and carefully selected design-led furnishings, the collection offers a testament to the life, intellect, and values of one of Britain’s most pioneering entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

The collection will be offered in the sale Dame Stephanie Shirley CH: A Legacy shaped by Technology, Philanthropy and Art.

Dame Stephanie Shirley’s life story is an extraordinary one. Arriving in Britain aged just five as an unaccompanied Kindertransport refugee from Nazi Germany, she went on to transform the British technology sector. Beyond her business achievements, Dame Stephanie was defined by her commitment to philanthropy and through the Shirley Foundation she supported causes close to her heart, including autism research, education, computing heritage, and the arts. She was a guest on Desert Island Discs in 2010 and in 2015 gave a famous TED Talk titled "Why do ambitious women have flat heads?". 

The collection itself reflects a deeply considered approach to living with art. Rather than a decorative assemblage, it is an intellectually coherent group of works chosen for their formal clarity, material integrity and emotional resonance. Modern sculpture sits alongside studio pottery and design-led furnishings, selected not only for aesthetic excellence but for how they shape and enrich everyday life. A notable feature of the collection is the presence of works by women artists and makers, echoing Dame Stephanie’s lifelong commitment to championing women’s achievements.

Dame Stephanie believed profoundly in art’s capacity to enhance human wellbeing, once stating, “art addresses people’s inner, emotional lives. This non-material side of life is a basic human need - and indeed a human right.”

Ahead of the sale, Autistica’s Interim CEO, Rebecca Sterry commented, “Dame Stephanie Shirley’s life was defined by purpose, curiosity, and generosity. We are honoured that the proceeds of this sale will support Autistica, the charity that she founded to create better understanding and opportunities for autistic people through research. We will always be immensely proud of our Founder. Her values and beliefs are embedded in our charity and drive our commitment to innovative problem solving, acting with urgency and embracing difference”.

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Auction Details

Auction:
Tuesday 10 March 2026, 10.30am GMT
Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Auction coming soon!

Catalogue:
To pre-order a catalogue, please click here.

Bidding:
This is a live online auction with an auctioneer. Bidding is available in person at our salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids. Learn more.

On View:
Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
Monday 23 - Wednesday 25 February 2026: 10am - 4pm

Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE
Saturday 7 - Monday 9 March 2026

Further information:
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com
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The total hammer price for lots being sold by The Estate of the late Dame Stephanie Shirley CH will be donated to Autistica, in accordance with Dame Stephanie's wishes. This does not apply to lots in the auction being sold by other beneficiaries, as indicated in the sale catalogue.

Find out more about Autistica