Alternative investment options Art

Art can be an emotional investment. Nicky Wheeler of the Affordable Art Fair advises you to buy what you love.

Woman in gallery

Pieces of art should be held for at least 5 years for a decent profit

After all, an item could hang on your wall for a while – pieces should be held for at least five years for a decent profit.

Where to invest your money

Wheeler suggests two routes to explore:

  • The safer option: Established artists - a David Hockney etching, for example, could cost around £3,000.
  • A riskier route: Emerging talent - there’s no guarantee they’ll become stars, but the rewards could be greater as their items are often cheaper to buy.

Prints

Stephanie Post of the Contemporary Art Society (CAS) says it’s also worth considering limited-edition prints. Matt’s Gallery in London produces a set of prints by 15 different artists from £4,000.

For lower-priced investments, prints with a larger print run cost from around £100, although returns are likely to be lower.

Stephanie advises potential collectors to visit fairs, graduate shows and local artists and to join a local collectors’ group – to learn and make contacts.

Also check out the Artnet website, which details a huge array of artists, auctions and galleries across the globe.

Art fairs

Mark Griffin

It's well worth going to an art fair

Art fairs are great for speaking to experts, exploring different genres and choosing from a wide selection of items. The ArtFutures fair, run by the CAS in London, shows pieces by new and established artists priced up to £5,000.

The Affordable Art Fair (AAF) is held twice a year in London, and annually in Bristol, selling works up to £3,000. Featured artists who have gone on to be successful include Damian Roach and Antony Micallef.

Which? member and art buff Mark Griffin bought a print of Antony Micallef’s Giant Freak for £350 in 2005, which he liked for its ‘striking and arresting image – I wanted it on my wall’. It’s now estimated to be worth £3,500, but he says: ‘I have no intention of selling any of my pieces.’

The Glasgow Art Fair is held annually in the city’s George Square.

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