Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the world’s leading international auction houses. With salerooms in London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong, Bonhams specialises in more than 60 categories spanning fine art, antiquities, jewellery, luxury and collectibles. 

Emma at the 173rd Annual Open

Over the past eight years, the RWA has worked in collaboration with Bonhams, which has supported several of our exhibitions, hosted events at the gallery and, in 2024, held the fundraising auction Inspiring Art for Everyone to raise funds for the RWA.  

Ahead of our 173rd Annual Open, we caught up with Emma Sykes, Regional Director for Bonhams in the West of England and South Wales, to find out how an auction house functions, gain insight into the experience Emma brings to the role, hear about standout moments in her career, and discover which works of art inspire her.  

"Bonhams has had a longstanding presence in the West of England, and I am proud to represent the business from my base here in Bristol" shares Emma over a cup of coffee in the Spicer + Cole café at the RWA.  

"Bonhams supports the RWA because we share a commitment to celebrating artistic excellence, connecting people with exceptional works of art, and making art more accessible to everyone."  

Emma goes on to explain that the role of an auction house is "primarily to sell property on behalf of its owners".   

"At Bonhams", she continues, "this takes place through live auctions in our salerooms, timed online sales, which have grown significantly in popularity, and private sales".    

"We don’t just hold auctions; we also offer complimentary, confidential auction estimates for items being considered for sale. We tailor our approach to the nature of the pieces being valued: some people need valuations for insurance purposes, while others are looking to sell items through our auctions."  

"When selling pieces, our role is to ensure that each item is placed in the most appropriate sale, reaching the widest possible audience and achieving the best result on the day."

When asked to share one 'stand out moment' from her career, Emma recounts the story of an early 16th-century German Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, depicting Venus with Cupid.  

"It came to me from a property in South Wales", she shares, "it was immediately recognisable as a work by the great artist, or at the very least from his circle. Following extensive research by our Old Masters team and confirmation by an independent expert in Germany, it was authenticated as a work by the master himself."  

"It went on to achieve a hammer price of £1.9 million, making it the most valuable painting I have handled for auction. The result was a true team effort and a wonderful reminder of the discoveries that make the auction world so rewarding."  

Outside her work with Bonhams, Emma is drawn to works by the Old Masters, particularly “Peter Bruegel the Elder and Caravaggio”.   

"When visiting the National Gallery, I always seek out Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus, a painting I could study for hours: its depth of realism, down to the dirty fingernails; its use of foreshortening, with the figures’ arms almost reaching out towards the viewer; and the intense atmosphere created by chiaroscuro, not to mention the heavy use of symbolism.  

"At the same time, I love discovering contemporary artists through the RWA’s exhibitions, including Academicians Ione Parkin and Nicky Knowles. In this year’s Annual Open, I’m particularly looking forward to exploring the work of Alice Kettle and Mohammed Barrangi" 

If you are interested in learning more about Collecting Art we are hosting a series of events led by artists and experts throughout our 173rd Annual Open (12th September 2026 - 3rd January 2027). Click here to explore upcoming events.

As an independent charity, the RWA relies on the support of sponsors, donors and partners to make art accessible to more people across our region. Partnerships like our sponsorship with Bonhams help us deliver inspiring exhibitions, learning programmes and community projects. To find out more about partnering with the RWA, please contact Caroline Booth Morris, Head of Development on caroline.boothmorris@rwa.org.uk

Lead image 173rd Annual Open, photographer Alastair Brookes