Boutique recruitment for galleries, auction houses, museums, art advisories and cultural organisations seeking carefully selected permanent and temporary talent.
Trusted by 30+ clients nationwide.
“It was a really easy process from start to finish. The team were friendly, listened properly and only sent people who felt like a genuine fit for us. It felt much more personal than the usual recruitment experience.”
Director at a growing, client-facing organisation
“We had a very good experience with Clayton Miles. They took the time to understand how our team works and were helpful throughout, without making the process feel rushed or pressured. We were very happy with the person we appointed.”
Hiring Manager at a specialist, people-focused organisation
“The service was warm, professional and refreshingly straightforward. We could tell they cared about finding the right match, not just filling the role, and they kept in touch properly all the way through.”
Operations Lead at a privately owned creative business
A successful appointment in the art market is rarely defined by a job title alone. Employers need people who understand the work, communicate with confidence and represent their organisation with the right degree of knowledge, care and discretion.
Clayton Miles is a UK art recruitment agency supporting employers across London and the wider UK. Our art gallery recruitment service is designed for commercial galleries, fine art businesses, auction houses, museums, art advisories and cultural organisations looking for a thoughtful, personal approach to hiring.
Every search starts with the context behind the position. When recruiting an Art Consultant, that may include collector relationships, fine art sales experience, artist knowledge, languages, an established network and the ability to advise clients with confidence. For Gallery Assistants and Gallery Managers, the detail may involve exhibitions, artist liaison, inventory, loans, shipping, installation schedules, art-fair logistics and day-to-day gallery operations. Depending on the brief, we can also discuss experience with Artlogic or other CRM and collections-management platforms, cataloguing, provenance, client due diligence, anti-money-laundering procedures and sanctions awareness.
Specialist arts recruitment also requires an understanding of how differently organisations operate. A founder-led gallery, international auction house, public museum and private advisory may use similar titles while expecting very different levels of autonomy, commercial awareness and stakeholder management. We clarify those distinctions before presenting candidates.
A focused, personal search from the first conversation through to acceptance, with the brief and your organisation’s reputation handled thoughtfully throughout.
We take time to understand the organisation, reporting line, team dynamic and reason for the hire. Alongside responsibilities and salary, we discuss the artists, clients, collections or departments the person may support, the level of market knowledge expected and the qualities that will help them succeed in your environment.
We search relevant networks and targeted channels, including conversations with art professionals who may not be actively applying. Where confidentiality matters, we agree what can be disclosed and when. The search is shaped around the market, level and specialist knowledge of the appointment rather than a generic list of applicants.
Potential candidates are interviewed and assessed against the detail of your brief. We explore their responsibilities, achievements, market knowledge, motivations and working preferences, along with practical matters such as availability, location and salary expectations. You receive a concise shortlist with useful context behind every introduction.
We coordinate interviews, gather considered feedback and help both sides navigate questions around scope, remuneration and timing. Once you have selected the right person, we support the offer and maintain communication through notice period and agreed start date.
The strongest candidate must understand the context of the organisation as well as the responsibilities of the position.
Primary and secondary markets, contemporary and historical works, private clients, public collections and international fairs each call for different knowledge. A credible search must distinguish genuinely relevant experience from a broadly similar CV.
The art market is small and interconnected. Senior moves, succession plans and confidential replacements need careful communication so employers can explore the market without creating unnecessary speculation.
Many employees become a visible extension of the gallery, auction house, museum or advisory. Judgement, presentation, cultural awareness and the ability to build trust can matter as much as technical competence.
Our focus is on the people who develop client relationships, support the gallery and lead its day-to-day commercial and operational work.
Sales & advisory
Art Consultants who can build credible collector relationships, understand the work they represent and approach fine art sales with confidence, judgement and discretion.
Gallery support
Organised, personable Gallery Assistants able to support visitors, artists, exhibitions, administration, databases and the detail behind a polished gallery experience.
Gallery leadership
Gallery Managers who can balance people, clients, exhibitions, operations and commercial priorities while protecting the standards and identity of the gallery.
Every search is adapted to the scale, culture, commercial model and audience of the organisation.
Contemporary, modern and historical galleries, from founder-led spaces to international businesses.
Specialist departments, valuations, client services, business development and operational teams.
Public and private museums, cultural institutions, collections, exhibitions and visitor-facing operations.
Independent dealers, private advisors and businesses supporting collectors and collections.
Artist studios, estates, foundations, private collections and mission-led arts organisations.
Art fairs, fine art logistics, art technology, communications and other specialist market services.
From a long-term addition to temporary exhibition support, the service reflects the importance, duration and sensitivity of the requirement.
Clear commercial terms and a focused recruitment process, adapted to the expectations of galleries, auction houses, museums and art businesses.
We assess relevant experience, motivations, working style and the specialist detail of your brief before making an introduction. You receive a focused shortlist, not a volume of loosely matched CVs.
If a permanent hire leaves during the replacement period agreed in your recruitment terms, we carry out a replacement search at no additional recruitment fee, subject to those terms.
Our permanent contingency service has no upfront search fee. A recruitment fee becomes due only after you hire a candidate we introduce.
Straight answers about specialist searches, discretion, screening, temporary support, coverage and recruitment fees.
Our principal focus is Art Consultants, Gallery Assistants and Gallery Managers. We qualify every candidate against the gallery, clients, artists, commercial expectations and working environment described in your brief.
We can support commercial galleries, auction houses, museums, art advisories, dealerships, artist studios, foundations, private collections, art fairs and related arts and culture organisations.
Every search is assessed against the specific brief. We review relevant art-market experience, responsibilities, commercial or technical knowledge, systems exposure, communication style, motivation, availability and working preferences, alongside right-to-work evidence and references where agreed.
Yes. We support art-market employers in London and across the wider UK. The search strategy is shaped around the location, working pattern, seniority and specialist knowledge required.
Yes. Where discretion is important, we can agree how the organisation and opportunity are presented, who may be approached and when identifying information can be shared.
Yes. We support permanent appointments as well as temporary, fixed-term and project-based requirements for exhibitions, fairs, sales, leave cover and periods of increased activity.
Timing depends on the seniority and specificity of the brief. We will agree a realistic search plan at the outset and prioritise urgent temporary requirements where suitable people are available, without compromising the quality of the shortlist.
Permanent recruitment is available on a contingency basis with no upfront search fee. Temporary and project rates depend on the role, duration and requirements. Call us for a clear quote; we are transparent with pricing and will not waste your time.
Yes. The art market includes many roles with distinctive combinations of subject knowledge, client relationships, sales ability, collections experience and operational expertise. We begin by defining what is essential and then shape a focused search around it.
Tell us about the organisation, the appointment and what the right person needs to bring. We will help you shape a focused, considered search.
