Advisors
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James Kelly
Advisor
James has a long association with business and the arts. Prior to his semi–retirement he was a director of Science Limited, which managed the affairs and business activities of contemporary artist Damien Hirst. During his time at Science he played a key role in projects such as the creation of Newport Street, Hirst’s gallery, which won the 2016 Stirling Prize for UK’s best building. He also was involved in significant elements of the artist’s epic Treasures exhibition that opened to acclaim in 2016. James retired from full time employment with Science and now provides commercial and strategic advice to businesses within the art world through his consultancy. He acts as a Non-Executive Director to a number of businesses including Bonhams auction house. Previously, he spent more than 20 years as a partner at the international Chartered Accountants, Rawlinson & Hunter, where his clients included a number of artists, galleries, auction houses and other art related businesses.
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Nazy Vassegh
Advisor
Nazy Vassegh is a Strategic Art Consultant who advises a cross section of business owners in the world of art and culture on growing and developing their businesses. She also works with brands to shape affiliations within the art world. Nazy was previously the CEO of Masterpiece Fair and, before that, was at Sotheby’s for 19 years. During her time at the auction house she became a Senior Director, worked across the company to launch ‘Sotheby’s Preferred’ and was MD of the European Impressionist and Modern Art Division.
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Ian Strathcarron
Chairman
Apart from being Chairman of Sophie Macpherson Ltd, Lord Strathcarron is Chairman of Unicorn Publishing Group LLP and the interior design company Play ID Ltd. When not on boards, he is the author of the spy thrillers Invisibility and Black Beach, the historical travel works Joy Unconfined! Lord Byron’s Grand Tour Re-Toured and the Mark Twain travel trilogy Innocence and War: Mark Twain’s Holy Land Revisited, The Indian Equator: Mark Twain’s India Revisited and Heart of Lightness, Mark Twain’s Mississippi Revisited. He has also written the philosophy guides Living with Life and Mysticism and Bliss, the Sir Francis Chichester biography Never Fear! and most recently the Bertie Wooster biography Crikey! How Did That Happen? He is currently writing Confessions of a Publisher; It Needn’t Be like This, But It Somehow Just Is.
