The fine art auction business of Dee Atkinson & Harrison in Yorkshire has been renamed Spicers by former employee Andrew Spicer.
Previously at Phillips and Bonhams Chester, Spicer joined Dee Atkinson & Harrison three years ago.
He said: “I wanted to improve our sales. Being part of an estate agent was actually a hindrance. It restricted who offered us work because other estate agents in the area knew we were associated with a firm. Now we are independent and have no ties with any estate agent.”