The signs were evident at an early age... He had the collector gene in him; whether it was the early childhood collection of Corgi and Dinky cars that he had amassed, or eventually his amazing vinyl collection that had been shaped through his insatiable curiosity - in the days before Spotify and algorithms! It spanned rock, jazz and classical, and later opera which he learned to really appreciate during his years in Venice, Florence and Bologna.

A question that is often asked is "who do we collect for, ourselves or for the people we are surrounded by, in order to impress upon them our expansive and educated taste?" 

Ian was never interested in anyone else's point of view, so the objects he acquired over time were those that genuinely moved him - free of any pressure to impress.

He lived modestly, like a student, at his farmhouse in Florence, albeit surrounded by objects of beauty - whether an Old Master painting or drawing, a terracotta sculpture or a simple, antique wooden box. That’s what he spent his money on.

The eclectic artworks scattered around his home, greeted him each morning as he sat with his coffee at the typewriter, surrounded by old catalogues of exhibitions he had visited and editions of Italian newspapers he had not yet fully read. Through the mayhem of clutter, he stared in admiration at his expanding collection, gathered with a natural passion and a steadily deepening store of knowledge.

On one of his trips back to London, I remember vividly how his brain seemed to be overflowing with the information he’d absorbed. As we visited an Old Masters sale at Christie's, he correctly identified many of the artists exhibited (including several lesser known) before reading the attributions provided by the auction house. It wasn’t therefore a surprise to me when, soon after, he formally embarked upon his career as an Old Master dealer. As he sought hidden treasures crying out for recognition, he loved to share his expertise with fellow connoisseurs and enthusiasts and I was struck by how naturally it suited him, perhaps as the Old Master world echoed the life and culture he was enjoying in Italy at the time.

He was never ‘a dedicated follower of fashion’ but eventually, his curiosity led him towards the contemporary art world - perhaps inspired by my enthusiasm for my own growing contemporary collection. He was fascinated by the connectivity of art through the ages, and particularly enjoyed that the modern era gave him the opportunity to engage with the living artists behind the works. During the last decade of his life, he became deeply involved in mentoring and supporting a selection of hand-picked artists at varying stages of their own careers showcasing them at his Newman St Gallery and in those later years, he also delighted in the wonderful opportunity he had to display much of his life’s collection at his home in The Clock House, in Bloomsbury, augmenting it with his ongoing acquisitions.

Ian’s passion for collecting accompanied him on his journey of curiosity into many worlds of aesthetic ideas. Although it began with him cultivating the realm of art for himself alone, he later came to realise that he had inevitably become one of its custodians, and hoped to inspire the next generation of artists and collectors.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 28 January 2026 | 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in London (highlights): The Clock House, 11 John Street, WC1N 2EB
  • Tuesday 13 January: 11am-3pm
  • Wednesday 14 January: 11am-3pm
  • Thursday 15 January: 11am-3pm
• Viewing in Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Sunday 25 January: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 26 January: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 27 January: 10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 28 January: 9am-4pm

Further information:
General enquiries: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com
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