Appraiser Profile

Appraisers are mandated to complete the 7-Hour National USPAP Code of Ethics update course every two calendar years. This Code of Ethics guarantees that appraisers produce independent, accurate, and unbiased appraisal reports that strictly adhere to IRS tax guidelines and insurance scheduling requirements. Sally is fully current and compliant through December 2025. With over 20 years of extensive experience in a wide range of appraisal assignments, she delivers the highest level of service, due diligence, and expertise to her clients. Her appraisal reports are not only accurate and unbiased but also legally sound, based on thorough research and analysis, ensuring they can be substantiated and defended in a court of law.

Sally specializes in 19th and 20th-century American and European art and sculpture, modern art, contemporary art, California art, fine art photography, murals, and digital art. Her appraisal assignments encompass insurance scheduling, estate planning, equitable division of property, and charitable donations. With a robust international network of art dealers and specialists, she has direct access to a wealth of sales data from both gallery and auction markets. Sally subscribes to three leading fine art databases that provide real-time gallery and auction sales data globally. Moreover, her personal library is stocked with essential resource books on 19th and 20th-century art, covering Impressionism, post-Impressionism, abstract expressionism, pop art, modern and contemporary art, and fine art photography.

Sally dedicates her time to lecturing on Estate Planning for Fine Art at various organizations, including the San Francisco Yacht Club and the Sausalito Woman’s Club. She is a Curator’s Circle member at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and a member of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Achenbach Graphic Arts Forum at the de Young Museum, and the San Francisco Yacht Club, where she served on the Auxiliary Board from 2020 to 2023. When she isn't appraising fine art, you can find Sally sailing on The Bay with her dog, Hazel.

Sally Newton serves as the owner and principal appraiser of Newton Fine Art Appraisal. With a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine Art from the University of California, Irvine, Sally is well-equipped to navigate the complex world of art valuation. During her time at UC Irvine, she immersed herself in a curriculum that encompassed essential topics including Fine Art Valuation and Methodology, Art Research and Analysis, Estate Planning and Tax Law, and Charitable Donations. Her Certification in Appraisal Studies in Fine Art, recognized by American Society of Appraisers, reflects her dedication and commitment to excellence, obtained through a demanding peer review process and strict adherence to the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice.