There are many reasons why people buy art:

For simple pleasure
These purchases are made usually for the sheer joy of owning a piece of art that gives a sense of enjoyment through its appearance. Colour is often the only motive. Or perhaps the subject matter evokes a sense of nostalgia or meaning to the individual doing the buying.

For decoration
Here the initial desire is simply to decorate a wall with a painting that suits the room and its décor, or perhaps use a sculpture, ceramic or glassware to act as a focal/discussion point in the home.

To start a collection
This is a growing trend, particularly with "established" artists. Well known names develop a following of enthusiasts who regularly attend their solo exhibitions and are first on the scene at previews thereby ensuring they have the widest choice of purchase. Some collectors restrict themselves to one or a few artists only, others build a collection based on variety of artist and media. Often subject matter is not important to the collector although most are driven by their instant love of the art work concerned.

As an investment
Becoming more common in these unsettled times, is the art buyer who is looking for an investment. With so much disillusionment around over stock markets, banks and other savings institutions, investors are turning in ever increasing numbers to other ways to gain capital appreciation.

Art as an investment can start with relatively modest sums. As an example, 10 years ago we bought a mid sized painting by an established artist for £1500. Today a similar sized painting by that same artist will be hard to find for anything less than £4500. That’s an appreciation of 200%. We have a few others in our collection that exceed even that. It is an interesting exercise to compare this with what our £1500 would be worth today if we had invested it in banking shares!

Whatever the value comparison, the fact is that we would never have had the same enjoyment and pleasure as we have had by looking at the painting again and again over the years.

The secret, we believe, is in the selection of the artist. Get that right and your purchase should command a decent value, as can be witnessed week in and week out at the Auction houses up and down the country.

So why buy art? It’s simple – for enjoyment first and foremost, as a start or continuation of a collection, and potentially as an investment.

Our Gallery will be stocked with these principles in mind.