About hilary kay

the short version

Hilary Kay is a broadcaster, independent consultant, speaker and writer. 

• 1977 Joins Sotheby’s, stays for 23 years, auctioneer and Senior Director.

• 1978 Invited to join team of experts on BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow; 45 years and counting…

• 1996 Establishes Art & Antiques Events providing corporate entertainments

• 2006 Creates theatre show “Have You Had It Long, Madam?”, which tours the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada

• 2014 Launches The Art Institute, the online History of Art course

• 2025 President of The Arts Society, the organisation which connects people with the arts and with each other

Now for THE LONG VERSIOn

how it began

Hilary Kay’s obsession with antiques began when she was a child.

Born into a family of engineers, Hilary has always been fascinated by mechanical antiques. Alongside every girl’s usual teenage passions, her interest was sparked by scientific instruments, clockwork toys, musical boxes, mechanical devices and machines.

sotheby’s

At 20, Hilary joined Sotheby’s Fine Art Auctioneers and helped establish their newly-created Collectors’ Department. A dream job; working for the world’s largest international art auctioneer researching, cataloguing and valuing the objects she loved. After a year she became Head of the Department and took her first auction at the age of 21, becoming Sotheby’s youngest ever auctioneer.

During her career at Sotheby’s Hilary developed a wide range of new collecting areas. She devised and held the world’s first auction of Rock Memorabilia in 1981 and wrote the first book on the subject in 1992. Hilary worked with Elton John selling his collection and advised rock luminaries on the value of their personal archives. The Rock Memorabilia market has matured over the decades and is now an international multi-million-dollar industry.

television

In 1978 Hilary was invited to join the team of experts on BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow. Today she is one of the most familiar faces on the programme and is the longest-serving member of the Roadshow team.   She has presented or featured in countless television programmes including presenting a landmark series for BBC TV, Brilliantly British, exploring the lives of Thomas Chippendale, Josiah Wedgwood and William Morris. To her surprise, she also won BBC TV’s Celebrity Mastermind.

art & antiques events

With an insight into the aspirations and requirements of corporations, institutions and individuals in the sector, she established Art and Antiques Events when she left Sotheby’s. The company creates art and antiques centred entertainment for the corporate market, for the world’s cruise lines and for private clients.

speaking

Hilary is sought-after as an experienced and accomplished speaker and presenter. She has delivered hundreds of lectures, talks, study days, entertainments, keynote and after dinner speeches to audiences across the world.

theatre show

Hilary devised and produces a theatre show, “Have You Had It Long, Madam?” Tales from the Roadshow which has toured extensively through the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada since 2006.

education

Hilary is currently involved with online further education, having created The Art Institute; a course that has brought together leading experts and specialist tutors to present History of Art to an international audience.

writing

Hilary has written and contributed to numerous books and magazines. Her book, ‘Rock & Roll Memorabilia’, was the first text book written on the subject.

PRESIDENT, THE ARTS SOCIETY

In 2025 Hilary was appointed President of The Arts Society, a volunteer-led organisation connecting people with the arts and with each other. The 360 local Societies across the UK, Europe and overseas, create inviting spaces where members may share and explore the richness of art together.

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