Natasha Raskin Sharp Opens Up About Her Journey into Antiques: ‘I was gently nudged by my dad’
Bargain Hunt’s presenter and esteemed antiques expert, Natasha Raskin Sharp, has become a familiar face in recent years. The Scottish host initially delved into the world of antiques after studying History of Art at the University of Glasgow.
She kick-started her career as an auctioneer, later rising to the role of Head of Pictures at McTear’s auction house in Glasgow. This set the stage for her transition into becoming a respected antiques expert and television host. However, it was the mentorship from her famous father that sparked her passion for antiques and helped shape her successful career.
Natasha has established herself in the antiques world, with a bit of help from her renowned father, Philip Raskin. Her father, a respected figure in the art world, is a celebrated Scottish artist known for his stunning landscapes and seascapes, reports Devon Live.
Born in Glasgow in 1947, Philip Raskin has showcased his work at various exhibitions worldwide. Philip refined his artistic talents at the Glasgow School of Art in the 1960s, but his studies were abruptly ended due to the premature death of his father. For two decades, he was the cherished face of a beloved eatery before he shifted gears to dedicate himself to his lifelong zeal for painting. With his distinctive flair, he’s garnered acclaim across the globe and is a regular feature in various art critiques.
Philip Raskin’s poignant artworks embellish the spaces of White Wall Galleries, offering viewers a glimpse into his rarefied world. He reflects: “I tend to paint very private places for the viewer to own and enjoy; no people, no houses, no telegraph poles.” His canvases are a tranquil tribute to the allure of seclusion, immortalizing spots where “Just the driftwood of an ebb tide, mist tumbling on a distant hilltop and silence broken only by lapping water and gulls ascending.”
Born in 1986, Natasha Raskin Sharp cut her teeth at McTear’s auction house amidst her father’s masterpieces. These early experiences firmly laid the groundwork for her emergence on television. Within a family that reveres the arts and is comprised of three children, Natasha grew up surrounded by a culture of creative appreciation.
Her earliest professional steps were at McTear’s auction house, renowned for auctioning pieces by her dad, which undoubtedly led to her breakthrough in television. With her father’s fervor for Scottish contemporary art deeply rooted in her, Natasha quickly became an esteemed personality across several BBC shows including Antiques Road Trip, Flog It!, and the gameshow For What It’s Worth.
Before diving into the art world, Natasha initially pursued a legal education at university but eventually shifted her studies to the History of Art, immersing herself more deeply in its compelling stories. Before her fame in the antiques trade, she dabbled in the fashion industry and also made her mark in the political sphere by involving herself in Barack Obama’s preliminary elections in 2008 in New Hampshire.
Television personality Natasha Raskin Sharp, notable for her roles on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, has opened up about her diverse career journey and how her father played a pivotal role in her professional life. She exposed her backstory, disclosing: “I was gently nudged in the direction of the antiques trade and auction houses by my dad, who thought that I’d be well-suited to the environment.” Despite some initial hesitancy towards the antique scene, she ultimately acknowledged: “Although I’d never normally admit it, he was absolutely right.”
The aficionado of art hasn’t ruled out the possibility of delving into her father’s line of work in the hospitality industry someday. She added: “My plan was always to follow in my parents’ footsteps and open a restaurant. If I’m honest, I’m not ruling it out as a sideline…there’s nothing quite like catering to keep you on your toes.”