Art Valuer

Day-to-day work typically includes: assessing the condition, quality and age of the object or collection; checking whether it has been restored or changed in any way; checking the origin of the object or collection by examining receipts or other proof of how the owner obtained it; researching using reference books, libraries and the internet; and consulting specialists and historians.

Other duties include: keeping up to date with current prices and demands; preparing written evaluations for clients; and preparing catalogues and running auctions.

Art valuers sometimes act as an expert witness in disputed cases which have gone to court.

Starting salaries can be up to £18,500 a year. Average salaries are around £22,000 to £25,000 a year.

With several years’ experience and specialist knowledge, salaries can rise to £40,000 or more.

You can become an art valuer byworking in an auction house or antiques business as an assistant, porter, or cataloguer and learning through experience and part-time study.

Alternatively, you could join a graduate training scheme with a large auction house such as Sotheby's or Christie's – only a few of these are offered each year, and you would usually need a degree in a subject such as history of art or fine art.

You could also do a degree in a relevant subject, such as art history, fine arts and restoration, or fine arts conservation, followed by further professional training in valuation.

To find a relevant degree course, use the course search on this site and check with individual institutions for their entry requirements.