Sadie Jones

Sadie is a History of Art Graduate who now works as a Gallery Manager and Fine Art Consultant for Clarendon Fine Art.

What does your job involve?

Currently, I am a Gallery Manager and a Fine Art Consultant. I manage a small team and am responsible for the daily running of a two-floor gallery space.

My role is very multifaceted and involves curating the space, planning national events, holding talks on 20th Century Artworks and helping with new acquisitions. I manage a small portfolio of clients who I advise and consult with to help expand their collection. I recently had a career highlight facilitating the sale of a 300k David Hockney, ‘Arrival of Spring’.

Why did you originally choose to study your course at The University of Manchester?

I had done a lot of research regarding where to study Art History, and I particularly loved the course at The University of Manchester. The course was unique in comparison to other universities due to its breadth of varied research and leading experts in the fields.

I also appreciated that the course had outreach and connections to local art galleries. Particularly, having grown up locally, it was an exciting prospect to have access to such a rich collection at the Whitworth Art Gallery.

How did your degree help prepare you for your current role? 

The teaching at Manchester was truly wonderful and I gained a lot of knowledge from my lecturers. Alongside the university’s academic strength, their outreach to local galleries ensures students gain practical experience also. 

This ensures that skills are applicable in jobs post- university. During my time at the university, I was given the opportunity to intern at Castlefield Art Gallery and at the Manchester Contemporary with Leon Martyn. This provided great networking opportunities which I can still rely on today.

What has your career path looked like since graduation?

After having graduated, I started a job at Natwest as a Premier Banking Manager. This was not something I initially expected to do, but it gave me great insight into dealing with high net worth clients and transactions. 

Following on from this, I was accepted on a master’s course at The Courtauld, specialising in Downtown New York in the 1970s. After this, I was eager to get back into the art world, but I equally wanted to use the experience I had gained at Natwest. This led me to apply for a role at Clarendon Fine Art as an Art Consultant. Having been there for 3 years, I was then promoted to the gallery manager of their Hale branch last year.

What are your personal highlights from your time at the university?

As mentioned, I was privileged to do an Internship at Castlefield art gallery, this was a huge inspiration for me whilst at university. This had a huge impact in my career and the connections I made. I was also particularly inspired by the likes of Professor Carol Mavor and Dr Ed Wouk, their passion for the field really inspired me whilst completing my degree.

What are the next steps for your career? What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

I would love to push my career further in my current role, expanding my expertise and knowledge. I would also love to go further in my education and complete a PhD when the time is right!

Do you have any advice for current/aspiring students?

My advice would be to choose a degree you truly feel passionate about! Your degree will be whatever you want to make of it.