It may seem like an intimidating and prohibitively expensive pastime, but in truth buying art can be fun and surprisingly affordable.
A private collection means your home will be decorated with original, one-off works that make excellent talking points and could become enduring family heirlooms. Browsing for pieces at galleries and fairs is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, and if you're lucky that graduate's oil painting you bought may be worth much more once they're the latest enfant terrible of British art.
We've asked Zoë Springbett, one of our interior sourcing specialists, for her tips on how to start a collection.
Consider the collection
Before starting a collection, decide to focus on a specific field such as landscapes, modern British watercolours or pop art. This will mean that the collection can be presented as a thematically unified body of work, rather than a confused mass of disparate pieces.
Zoë says: ‘A collection should be able to tell a story, reflect who you are, have some consistency and, even if you won't sell it on, it's useful from both a buyer's and seller's perspective if it can be 'packaged' under one label. For example, I really like contemporary British photography and that's what I'm trying to build on.'
Our lifestyle managers can help broaden members' experience of art by advising on galleries and exhibitions in their area, or put together bespoke travel itineraries including tours of important works within a specific genre. Call us to find out more.
Art fairs
Visit art fairs, particularly the ones that offer more affordable works. The London Art Fair is held every January and showcases a wide selection of galleries selling works starting from £200. The Affordable Art Fair takes place in London in March and October, and Bristol in May, as well as other major international cities during the year, selling pieces for between £50 and £3,000.
Zoë says: ‘These fairs tend to be welcoming and less intimidating than the big events, such as Frieze or Art Basel.'
Online art
There's no substitute for getting a close look at a piece of art, but there are benefits to browsing online as well. You can view the works from the comfort of your sofa and won't be pressured by a pushy salesperson in a cold gallery.
Eyestorm specialises in limited edition works from contemporary artists, including Damien Hirst and Russell Young. Art Republic has a wide range of limited edition prints and Degree Art sells work from students and graduates at the UK's most prestigious art establishments.
Limited editions
The phrase ‘limited edition' is often merely a marketing tool, but in the art world it still has integrity. It's used to refer to a small set of prints carefully reproduced from an original work, and usually created under the artist's supervision.
The prints will be signed and numbered, and are available from museums and other arts organisations such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts, the Serpentine Gallery and the Whitechapel Gallery. They offer a rare opportunity to own a piece by a famous artist.
Own art through Own Art
Make use of the Own Art initiative from the Arts Council England. The scheme allows buyers to purchase a piece of art for up £2,000 and divide the cost into ten equal, interest-free instalments.
Further information can be found at artscouncil.org.uk/ownart.
Art vs commerce
The most important rule is to buy art you love, not what you think will earn money at auction in a few years. Zoë says: ‘Take some time before buying anything and follow your passion, taste, and emotional engagement with the art rather than trying to predict its future monetary value.'
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