Acquiring the bigger names, where artists have a proven track record on the secondary market, is a safer bet but requires deeper pockets. Whatever your strategy discovering, acquiring, and living with works of art can bring enormous joy and gratification.

Our Art Advisory service guides you through the often complex art market, helping you develop an acquisition strategy that aligns with your vision and budget. We bring selected pieces for you to view at home or in a commercial space and use our price database to ensure you are paying a fair value. « Less

TRACK RECORD previous prices achieved on the primary and most importantly the secondary (resale) market are great indicators.
BIDDING WAR at auction can falsely inflate prices.
CONDITION / RESTORATION good original condition is always preferable.
PROVENANCE it is important to track the history of an artworks and good provenance will enhance the value. Important past owners or the inclusion of painting in a significant collection, even the fact that an artwork has been passed down through generations of the same family and is fresh to the market.
SIZE generally affects value but not always, contemporary artists will particularly price their work based on the size of the canvas, older paintings with the benefit of the perspective of time may be judged more frequently on whether they are a good example of the artist’s work.
TECHNIQUE / MEDIUM oil paintings by a particular artist tend to be more expensive than works on paper or prints by the same hand.
MULTIPLES in terms of signed limited edition prints and sculpture, the small the edition the better.
QUALITY can be subjective but the more art that you see, the easier it becomes to make a judgement on quality.
MARKET TRENDS in the 1980s strong prices were achieved for Impressionist paintings, in the 1990s Post War took the lead, in the noughties we saw the surge for popularity for Contemporary, then a surge in the market for digital art like NFTs.« Less

The global art market had a wobble in 2024, with overall sales declining by 12% to an estimated $57.5 billion. After a strong post-pandemic bounce that carried through 2022, this marked the second year in a row of slowing sales. Interestingly, the slowdown was largely driven by the high-end of the market, which thinned out significantly in 2023 and 2024. Even though some lower-priced segments were performing well, the absence of record-breaking, ultra-high-value sales pulled the overall numbers down.

Despite this drop in value, the market wasn’t exactly stagnant. In fact, the number of transactions actually grew by 3%, reaching $40.5 million. This tells us that while mega-sales were cooling off, more buyers were participating at the affordable end of the market. Dealers and auction houses have been capitalising on this shift, as these lower-priced segments continue to gain momentum even while the top tier slows.

Looking closer at different sales channels, both dealer and public auction sales saw declines—6% for dealers and a sharper 25% for public auctions. Private sales by auction houses, however, went in the opposite direction, climbing 14%. This suggests that some of the highest-value works are quietly changing hands behind the scenes rather than making headlines at auction.

Regionally, the United States remained firmly on top, accounting for 43% of global sales, a slight increase from the previous year. Yet even here, sales fell by 9% to $24.8 billion. Political uncertainty around the presidential elections and other factors seemed to weigh on the high-end segment, marking the second year of decline for top-tier prices, though the market still sits 18% above its pandemic low in 2020.

it was heartening to see the UK reclaimed the second spot, making up 18% of global sales. Its total sales reached $10.4 billion, down 5% from the previous year. Like the US, the UK saw cooling at the top end, leaving it 15% below its pre-pandemic size, but still slightly above 2020 levels. Meanwhile, China, including both Mainland and Hong Kong, slipped to third place, accounting for 15% of global sales—a 4% drop.

All in all, 2024 paints a picture of a market that’s shifting rather than shrinking. The high-end segment is struggling to maintain its post-pandemic momentum, but a growing, more accessible market at lower price points is keeping the wheels turning. Private sales are gaining in importance, and the regional landscape is evolving, with the UK bouncing back and China cooling off. The story seems to be one of adaptation: while the spectacular headline-grabbing sales are fewer, a broader base of collectors is keeping the market active.« Less

In many ways, this cooling at the very top feels like a healthy reset. The art world is broadening out, new collectors are coming in, and diversity is improving. For me, that makes 2025 an exciting year to be advising clients: it is less about chasing headlines, and more about finding the works and artists that truly matter — and that will stand the test of time.« Less