David Harper

David Harper has been fascinated by art and antiques all his life. From as early as he can remember he has been collecting and studying all things old and ancient…and he hasn’t stopped! As a child he would search for broken pieces of pottery in freshly ploughed farmers’ fields. By the age of seven, he had amassed a huge collection of worn-out coins and faded stamps! He bought his first antique at the age of nine and began working full-time within the art and antiques business at 18.

His passion for art, antiques and classic cars (art on wheels!) knows no bounds. David handles, studies, buys, sells, follows markets, writes about and reads about nothing else! At the age of 25, owing to his expertise David was asked to join a PLC company importing Antique style rubber wood furniture from the Far East. David was then one of the youngest directors of a PLC company in the UK

In 1999, he was asked to take part in a local BBC live radio phone in to talk about antiques, his experiences in the business, antique values and their histories. This was a very nerve-wracking experience and one that gave David his first ever night without any sleep!

The experience however was literally life changing, thrilling and great fun for him. Soon after, other local radio stations booked David and for three years David would appear weekly on BBC radio taking live calls from listeners to discuss their antiques, dishing out advice valuations and funny stories!

This was followed by offers to write for magazines and newspapers. This continued whilst David was running his antiques business which at the time included an antiques restoration and upholstery business making copies of Georgian and Victorian sofas.

Then, in 2003, David began valuing antiques behind the camera for shows like ‘Cash In the Attic’ until a call came in 2004 from a company making a new antiques show for Channel 4. David was asked to screen test for this show and the production company sent a director from London with a camera to visit David in Barnard Castle.

So, the TV career began and has continued to grow each year with new shows and appearance. The TV work of course running alongside David’s antiques and art brokerage business which complement one another perfectly. His programmes have aired in both daytime and primetime on BBC1 and BBC2, as well as in over 50 different countries around the world from Australia to Holland!

David is often asked to comment on antiques and art related stories for radio and TV. He also appears on other popular shows from Ready Steady Cook and Bargain Hunt to Through The Keyhole and Celebrity Masterchef.

When David is not filming or working in the business, you’ll probably find him painting! A recognised artist, David’s work hangs in homes around the world from California to Australia and is sold in several prestigious galleries in the UK. David’s artwork is very much inspired by the thousands of objects he has handled over the years, his time in Africa and the great 20th century painters like Picasso, Matisse, Leger and Vlaminck, all of whom he has studied and whose colours and flamboyancy have been engraved on his mind.

Aside from his TV work, hosting events, brokerage and painting David also writes art and antiques articles for magazines and newspapers and is often called upon to discuss related issues on national TV and radio, including the controversial topic of the antique ivory trade.

David spent some of his formative years in Zimbabwe and has a deep love of Africa, its people, its welfare and its animals. David is very involved in discussions on how to bring the poaching of Elephants and Rhinos to an end in Africa before it’s too late.

More recently, David has published a comedy History Book for adults, A Romp with the Georgians. His second book is called ‘A Bash with the British Empire,’ both of which have been turned into one man ‘stand up history shows’ for theatres, private events and cruises etc.

David is based in central London and rural Barnard Castle.