The Art Appreciation Course is presented and curated by art consultant Hilary Kay. Hilary has brought together 12 passionate art specialists to present you with a course designed to provide you with a broad understanding of western art, its history and the world that surrounds it. The knowledge and enthusiasm of the authors will ensure that you find the course both fulfilling and enjoyable.
Hilary Kay is an art and antiques consultant, broadcaster, international lecturer and writer.
She is one of the most familiar faces on BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow having joined this successful and long running programme as an expert in 1979. Hilary has featured in countless other television and radio programmes and, in 2010, she won BBC TV's Celebrity Mastermind.
Her career in art and antiques began in 1977 when she joined Sotheby's, rising rapidly to head of department; the following year she became Sotheby's youngest ever auctioneer when she took her first sale at the age of 21.
During her career at Sotheby's Hilary developed auctions in innovative areas of collecting including the world's first auction of rock memorabilia in 1981. She created and established the first expert training programmes within the company and worked extensively with Sotheby's education division, now Sotheby's Institute. She travelled regularly to Europe, North America and Australia visiting and advising both collectors and institutions. When she left Sotheby's in 2000 she held the position of Senior Director leading a group of departments including motorcars, horology, wine, arms and armour, coins, musical instruments and philately.
With an insight into the aspirations and requirements of corporations, institutions and individuals in the sector she left Sotheby's and established Art and Antiques Events, a company, which today provides art and antiques-centred pursuits to the corporate market and to private clients (www.artandantiquesevents.com).
To further popularise the world of art and antiques she devised and produced a theatre show, which toured the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and North America.
Mary-Louise Boardman
Olonzac, France