Crispian Riley-Smith

Spear’s Review

Crispian Riley-Smith, founder and CEO of Art Advisory Group, has more than 30 years of art advisory experience, helping HNWs and other art aficionados with the valuations of visual art and objects. One particular area of expertise for Riley-Smith is Old Master drawings. 

To assist with valuations, he works with an international network of specialists, while an important facet of his work is to have a ‘no minimums valuation policy’. 

‘We are happy to value the big and small through our network, and clients can be assured we have the right person for the job,’ according to the firm. ‘We are considered a one-stop shop for all our clients’ art needs.’

Accountancy and litigation firms have relied upon his firm’s services as a valuer, including recently for one complicated multi-million-pound artistic portfolio. 

Riley-Smith toyed with becoming an artist at the age of 16 but quickly found himself more drawn to the commercial and valuations side. After studying art history, he joined Sotheby’s as a graduate trainee in the 1980s. He tells Spear’s that art dealing is something of a family passion – his father was a rare books and manuscripts specialist.