Our Story

In 1992, as the last of their three children flew the nest for university, Margaret and David Rogers Jones embarked on the greatest gamble of their lives. After twenty-seven years with a firm in Anglesey, David closed that chapter of his career, and the couple left behind their idyllic bungalow gazing at the Carneddau Mountains. They moved thirty-five miles down the coast to the seaside town of Colwyn Bay to establish Rogers Jones & Co Auctioneers & Valuers.

Living above the shop, they poured themselves into the business. Through relentless hard work and the support of the local community, they built a thriving auction house. Their lives became dictated by the rhythmic pulse of the auction calendar: General Sales on the first two Tuesdays of each month, followed by a "gap week," and culminating in the "Antique & Fine Art" sale on the final Tuesday.

As the millennium approached, it became clear that the industry was at a digital crossroads. While my parents had mastered the fax machine, the world of websites and email remained a mystery. In November 2000, they asked if I would "come and help." I was working in IT at the time—a lucrative field, but one that lacked the "soul" I was searching for. I jumped at the chance to apprentice under my father. Following a final trip around the world, I officially joined the family business in June 2001.

It was a "make or break" era for traditional auction houses. To modernise, we launched our first website, transitioned to digital photography, and integrated email into our daily operations. A few years later, my brother John joined the firm. To break the monotony of the standard monthly cycle, we introduced my father’s brainchild: The Welsh Art Sale. The interest was immediate; soon, clients were travelling from across the country to consign works with us.

Our reach expanded further through valuation days in Cardiff, bolstered by our friend and Welsh Art Ambassador, Arfon Haines Davies. These events were immensely successful, drawing in works by celebrated artists such as Valerie Ganz, Will Roberts, and John Knapp Fisher. The Welsh Art Sale soon evolved into a truly national event, uniting buyers and sellers from every corner of Wales.

‘’Yn gweithredu gydag uchelgais, trylwyrdeb a balchder bob amser’'
‘’Working with ambition, thoroughness and pride each time’’

— David Rogers Jones (1942-2022)

David Rogers Jones (1942-2022)

Thirteen years into my tenure, I asked my father if I could capitalise on our growing momentum in South Wales. With his characteristic "go for it" blessing, I embarked on a gamble similar to the one my parents took two decades earlier. We opened our Cardiff branch in 2013, assembling a talented team and establishing a new home for Welsh art in what we now call The Welsh Sale.

Guided by my father’s ethos—"work thoroughly and with ambition"—the Cardiff saleroom gained rapid traction. We achieved landmark results, including a world record for a rugby union jersey in 2015 (£180,000) and a new world record for a Sir Kyffin Williams painting in 2016 (£60,000). As we continued to grow, we welcomed one of the UK’s most respected auctioneers, Charles Hampshire, to the team and opened an office in Carmarthen.

Sadly, my father passed away in 2022. He died shortly before we broke our own records by selling Sir Gareth Edwards’ 1973 Barbarians jersey for a hammer price of £240,000—once again setting a world record for rugby memorabilia.

£240,000: Welsh Auction House Record

Today, our growth continues. We recently opened an office at Gregynog Hall in Mid Wales and, in 2025, acquired Byrnes Auctioneers of Chester. In just over thirty years, Rogers Jones & Co has evolved from a single room in Colwyn Bay to a five-venue market leader. We remain dedicated specialists in everything from Welsh art and rugby memorabilia to fine jewellery, watches, and Asian arts. We remain a family business with myself and my brother at the helm with the younger Charles Hampshire supporting us in a partnership role.

Through it all, we remain guided by my father’s mantra: ambition, thoroughness and pride - with every lot in every consignment each and every time.

Ben Rogers Jones

Offices: Colwyn Bay (HQ), Cardiff, Chester, Carmarthen & Gregynog Hall (mid-Wales)

Insurance Valuations, Probate Valuations & Estate Dispersal

When managing a private collection or navigating the complexities of an estate dispersal, the choice of a partner is more than a business decision—it is a matter of trust, legacy, and expertise. Rogers Jones & Co stands as a premier alternative to London-based firms, combining deep-rooted Welsh heritage with the global reach and professional rigour required for modern asset management.

Our firm is built on a foundation of comprehensive service. From the sensitive handling of house clearances to meticulous valuations for insurance, probate, and family division, we provide a seamless transition for every client. Our independence is our strength; as a private company, we offer a level of flexibility and competitive terms that larger regional and national firms simply cannot match. This agility allows us to tailor our approach to the specific needs of banks, solicitors, and private individuals alike.

The results speak for themselves. Rogers Jones & Co proudly holds numerous auction records, including the highest hammer prices ever achieved within Wales. By choosing us, you are not just selecting a valuation service; you are partnering with a saleroom that consistently transforms private collections into historic market successes. We invite you to experience a service where professional excellence meets regional pride, ensuring your assets receive the prestige and value they deserve.

Notable Auctions and Specialisms

We are widely recognised for The Welsh Sale a triannual auction dedicated to Welsh art and antiques which envelopes all manner of items from a Welsh cultural perspective. We hold several world records for works by prominent Welsh artists, most notably Sir Kyffin Williams.

In 2006 we were privileged to be instructed to value the Estate of Wales' best-loved artist Sir Kyffin Williams
In 2021, the firm achieved a record hammer price of £62,000 for an oil painting and a record of £18,000 for a watercolour by the artist., both remain the highest auction prices ever recorded for the artist. Nine of the top ten world auction prices for Sir Kyffin Williams have been achieved at Rogers Jones & Co and through The Welsh Sale (as of 10/05/26)
We have a significant niche in rugby union antiques. In 2015, we sold a 1905 New Zealand All Blacks jersey for £180,000, which was a world record for any rugby item at the time, this was then broken by ourselves in 2023 when we sold a Barbarians jersey for £240,000.
In 2024, the firm was selected to auction the contents of the historic Jacobean house, Plas Teg, in Flintshire.
In 2026 a gold coin set a Welsh auction numismatic record when it realised £110,000 against a £70,000-100,000 estimate

Operations

The company operates from five locations:

Colwyn Bay: The original headquarters and North Wales saleroom.
Cardiff: The South Wales saleroom located on the Llandough Trading Estate.
Chester: A bespoke saleroom opened following the acquisition of Byrnes Auctioneers & Valuers in 2024
Carmathen: consignment office and collection hub
Gregynog Hall: consignment office, summer Welsh Sale venue and collection hub