LONDON.- James Service has been appointed Senior Business Consultant in East Anglia by Bonhams, the international fine art auction house. His brief is to develop client business across the region from Bonahms regional headquarters at Bury St. Edmunds.

Matthew Girling, Bonhams CEO Europe and the Middle East, commenting on the appointment, says: “We are delighted to welcome James Service to Bonhams. He will add significantly to our strength in East Anglia where he has spent most of his professional life and where he has unrivalled contacts.”

Speaking about his appointment James says: "I am very pleased that Bonhams have invited me to join them. I look forward to working with their team in East Anglia by building on their success with their sales at The Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds and confirming that Bonhams are the number one choice for clients in the area."

James worked most recently as an independent art consultant, advising clients on buying and selling and also providing a valuation service.

He was with Cheffins, from 2003 to 2008 managing the fine art department based in Cambridge and leading a team of 15.

Previously he was with Christie’s from 1990-2003, first as a Regional Manager and then an Associate Director. He was recruited to establish a Christie’s office representing clients in Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk.

His key achievements include developing business from zero to £2 million per annum within five years; securing a £12 million consignment of books from a private library- a European auction record; a £1.3 million oriental collection; a world record breaking result for a Samuel Palmer watercolour; and a £1.5 million group of Modern British pictures.

He also launched a group initiative to target and encourage high profile media clients in the UK which resulted in contact with some 125 clients with a potential spend in the art market in excess of £50 million.