Over nearly three decades, Sophie was involved in the appraisal, negotiation and sale of thousands of artworks, developing an instinct for quality, rarity and value across every level of the market. Working at Webb’s Auction House provided an unparalleled understanding of how the art market functions. Founded by her step-father, Peter Webb, the family business meant that Sophie quite literally grew up in the art world, surrounded by artists, collectors, dealers and the conversations that shaped New Zealand’s developing culture of collecting. A pioneering dealer and auctioneer, Peter Webb championed contemporary New Zealand art long before it was widely collected and was instrumental in developing the secondary market that underpins the country’s modernist and contemporary sector today.

His exceptional connoisseurship, commercial instinct and entrepreneurial vision shaped generations of collectors and professionals. Working alongside him provided a unique education in the significance and context of works of art, negotiation and the commercial realities of the art world that continues to inform Sophie’s practice. It also established an extensive network of relationships with collectors, dealers, institutions and artists, developed over decades in the sector. This combination of market intelligence, commercial judgement and long-term perspective enables clients to make informed decisions with confidence, whether acquiring, managing or selling works of art.