20 June 2024
Chantal de Prez
Buying art at auction can be an easy and affordable way to add interest, style and personality to your interior – while also championing artists whose work you believe in, from established names to rising stars.
For the first time buyer to the seasoned bidder, join The Art Edit Head of Sale Chantal de Prez as we discuss tips and tricks for finding the perfect piece for your home.
The most important piece of advice for a budding collector is to buy what you love. Following this principle will ensure that you continue to enjoy your artwork for years to come, and will result in a collection that reflects your tastes and possesses a distinctive character.
If you aren’t quite sure where to begin, try reflecting on the sort of pictures that have appealed to you in the past: perhaps you’re interested in the work of a particular artist or artistic school; perhaps you’re drawn to depictions of a certain locale; perhaps you enjoy artworks that make you feel happy, thoughtful or inspired. Browsing auction catalogues will help to hone your taste and develop your eye.
You might be surprised by the artists you can add to your collection by buying at auction. In the June 2024 edition of The Art Edit you'll find pieces by celebrated names including a design by the renowned artist and playwright John Byrne (lot 130), a landscape sketch by the Scottish Colourist George Leslie Hunter, or a print by the influential modern artist Laura Knight.
Auctions also enable you to collect work by up-and-coming names who might not yet have achieved the recognition they deserve: take, for instance, the two expressive monoprints by the outsider artist Pat Douthwaite, whose significance has only in recent years started to be reappraised.
The market for more traditional pictures has shifted in recent years, making it more accessible to collect work by artists whose vision and technical mastery continues to delight to this day - exemplified by Waller Hugh Paton's jewel-like painting of a wrecked ship against a twilit sky.
Think about the appearance of your interior - after all, this is likely where your new artwork will be displayed. If you live in an older property, you might find that your home’s period features are best complemented by a more traditional painting in a beautiful ornate frame, such as Sir James Lawton Wingate’s On The Sands. The clean lines of a more contemporary interior might be accented by a more bold, graphic piece such as Alexandra Knubley’s Outpost. However, modern and traditional styles can combine to wonderful effect, so don’t be afraid to mix and match.
Each edition of The Art Edit offers a fresh curation of artworks dating from the 18th-21st centuries and spanning genres and schools, allowing you ample opportunity to find exactly the right piece for your home and collection.
Estimates in The Art Edit start from £200, making it a comparatively affordable resource for finding new artworks to your collection. We take great care to ensure that every lot is clearly catalogued and photographed, so that even if you’re bidding from afar you can do so with confidence. Our team are on hand to discuss any lots of interest with you, and are happy to provide condition reports and additional images. Whether you prefer to bid online, over the phone or by commission, we will always try to secure your lot for you for the best price.
