Paul Roberts, who also serves as Vice Chairman of Lyon & Turnbull, specializes in collections and house sales, as well as directing the business development team.
He has nearly 40 years of experience. After graduating with a degree in history and politics in the early 1970s he worked for short periods both in the civil service and the world of antiquarian books in Hay on Wye before becoming an auctioneer.
Roberts was initially in charge of Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers, a small auction house in Cheshire, before joining the London auctioneers Phillips which was the third largest auction house in the world at the time. Over the following 19 years, Roberts became a Director of their Scottish operation then a Regional Director in charge of six northern sale rooms and a number of offices. In the 1990s he became Head of Marketing and latterly moved to the United States to head their New York operation. During his time at Phillips he was involved with the sale of many corporate and private collections. In 1999, Roberts left Phillips and along with four fellow Scottish directors, under the chairmanship of Sir Angus Grossart, helped regenerate Lyon & Turnbull in the role of Vice Chairman. He now divides his time between the United Kingdom and Philadelphia.