Art: From the Experts
Behind every artist is a parade of specialists who ensure that paintings, prints, ceramics and sculptures are ready to be exhibited in galleries and shipped all over the globe. We've asked experts in the art world to recommend their go-to contacts, be it a paint supplier, framer, installer, restorer or lighting designer.
Framing
SAM PRATT - co-founder of Gallery FUMI, which specialises in __design pieces
We use Pendragons (pendragonframes.com) located on Yorkton Street in east London, which always does a great job. Keith Andrews and his team produce innovative, bespoke frames for a number of well-known artists, collectors, museums and galleries. They're especially good for contemporary pieces, and do a line of light boxes that illuminate the artwork from within.
EMMA HAWORTH - winner of the Royal Watercolour Award 2015. Her highly detailed paintings are usually set in parks or scrubland
I go to The Frame Library (theframelibrary.com) in Earlsfield, south-west London, for beautiful, quality workmanship and good value. Beth Keegan, who runs it, is an artist and took over the family framing business a few years ago. They do anything and everything, but are particularly good at float mounting for contemporary works on paper.
ARAMINTA BLUE - artist whose large-scale paintings use bold, colourful imagery
Jackson's Art Supplies (jacksonsart.com) under Putney Bridge tube station has a fantastic stretching and cutting service, and Tim Bailey, the manager, is patient and helpful. I paint on loose canvas, which creates problems as the stretcher frames need to be bespoke to the millimetre. The process is surprisingly stress-free and the shop itself is like an Aladdin's cave for artists.
HOWARD HODGKIN - abstract printmaker and painter
Some of my frames come from Lacy Gallery (lacygallery.co.uk) in Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill, which has been an institution since 1960. I also buy through independent dealers, like Ted Few (020-876 7231) in London or Caroline Lyrodie (proantic.com), who is based in the antiques district of Rouen in France.
DAMIEN HIRST - artist and collector
The nice chaps at Darbyshire Frames (020-7812 1200) in London aren't really framers, but more like fabricators. They've been up for all the large-scale madness I've sent their way over the years. I've never once heard them say 'it can't be done' - refreshing in a world of negativity.
ROBIN STEWART - specialist in the modern and post-war British art department at Sotheby's
The framers at Sgraffiti (sgraffiti.co.uk) in Stoke Newington, London, are slick, work to difficult specifications and great value for money. Dan Schneider is the man to ask for. Another go-to is Giaccherini Riccardo (020-7580 1783) on Newman Street, W1, which is the only traditional Italian gilt frame maker in London. It often makes use of old or reclaimed frames, and though it's not exactly cheap, the end results are works of art in their own right.
Lighting
SARAH MCCRORY - Director of the Glasgow International Art Fair and the former curator of Frieze Projects
Where possible, I would use Erco lighting (erco.com). If it's good enough for the British Museum…
JAMES KIRKMAN - art dealer to Lucien Freud for 20 years, alongside John Piper and Henry Moore
TM Lighting (tmlighting.com) has a rare understanding of lighting, fine art and clients' needs. The service proves that good lighting completely transforms and enhances a painting. Fixtures are discreet and it's a pleasure to watch the attention to detail the team pays to each work of art.
BRYONY HARRIS - assistant curator of special projects at Whitechapel Gallery
Our first port of call for lighting expertise and advice is the father-and-son team behind Lightwaves (lightwaves.co.uk). John and Tom Johnson have a deep understanding of the challenges of lighting artworks of all mediums: from painting, photography and works on paper, to video, sculpture and installation. They have a deft ability to lift and effect perceptions of the pieces they work on, respecting delicate materials while carefully maintaining conservation light levels.
Hanging and Installation
SARAH ELSON - collector of contemporary art and founder of Launch Pad - a series of private art commissions developed to support emerging artists
My go-to people for hanging and installing any work of art in my home is Adi (groupadi.com), which has been around for over 15 years. Many of the technicians are artists themselves and I will often defer to their opinions because they have an excellent eye for what works. They are hugely capable and nothing daunts them.
BRYONY HARRIS - assistant curator at whitechapel gallery
For many years now we have worked alongside Sam Forster (samforster.com), made up of an expert team that advises on and makes museum-quality spaces for exhibitions and installations. We use them for temporary walls, but if you were to commission a large, complex piece for your home - for example, a multi-media or sculptural installation - I would recommend their services.
Supplies
BRIONY MARSHALL - sculptor and installation artist whose work is inspired by science; member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors
John Purcell is an amazing paper merchant in south London. The first time I went in, I thought I'd gone in the back door by accident as you just wander straight into a warehouse full to the ceiling with shelves of paper. Alec Tiranti on Warren Street, NW1, supplies my sculpture tools and materials. Going there is an exercise in restraint as there is far too much temptation. Milani's is the Italian counterpart to Tiranti's; the beautifully handcrafted tools are made in a small factory in the marble hills above Pietrasanta in Tuscany.
KATE MALONE - ceramicist inspired by the natural world, known for her vibrant glazes and often works with crystalline surfaces
I go to Dalston Mill hidden in east London's Ridley Road Market for traditional haberdashery and fabrics. Like the wardrobe in Narnia, there is a narrow entrance from the street that opens in to a room lined with wools, tweeds and rolls of fabric that seem to have been there for decades.
ANJ SMITH - creates meticulous and often eerie portraits and landscapes on a small scale
My favourite haunt for paint is L Cornelissen & Son in London. The tiny Dickensian treasure trove has extremely knowledgeable staff, who often identify paint for me from virtually illegible paint-splattered labels. I go to Russell & Chapple, also in central London, for the French linens I paint on. They are extremely accommodating, even of vegetarian artists - sizing everything for me with a synthetic equivalent to the traditional rabbit skin glue preparation. For etching supplies, I go to Intaglio in Southwark, which has the widest range of tools and Japanese papers.
EMMA HAWORTH - artist
I use Dr Ph Martin's watercolours. They are bright and clear, and come in little bottles with pipettes that are lovely in themselves.
HOWARD HODGKIN - artist
I paint in oils on wooden panels - sometimes found, otherwise manufactured by Dufaylite. The oil paints come from Michael Harding, my colourman. My acrylics come from L Cornelissen & Son on Great Russell Street, WC1, and sometimes I get oil crayons from Sennelier, which is a very good excuse for going to Paris.
BARBARA MACFARLANE - artist who plays with perspective in her interpretations of cities
I work in watercolour, ink and oils on Khadi paper - rugged, handmade paper from India, full of character with a strong physical presence. Khadi has an amazing range. As well as cotton rag paper from South India, it also sells Islamic hemp papers dyed with natural indigo or pomegranate. One is coloured with the pigment from lapis lazuli from remote valleys in Bhutan.
Display
BRIONY MARSHALL - sculptor
Belton Slade (toolbankexpress.com/shop/beltonandslade) in Wandsworth is a proper old-fashioned hardware shop. They can help with all sorts of strange requests. I might go in with a strange small bolt and they'll find me a replacement and charge me 12p. Dechardom (020-7228 1755) is a family-run timber merchants near Clapham Junction. It makes bespoke plinths with lovely bevelled edges. I recently discovered that the name stands for 'Decorating, Hardware & Domestic'!
SAM PRATT - co-founder of Gallery Fumi
For metal work we use Joe Buckingham (thegentlemanblacksmith.com). He's reliable, polite and has produced excellent bespoke display cases for Gallery Fumi. We use Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com) paint for the gallery walls. And for hardware, our local Leyland (leylandsdm.co.uk) tends to have everything we need.
KATE MALONE - ceramicist
I call Oval Workshop (ovalworkshop.co.uk) in south London whenever I need bespoke metal or wood plinths, shelves or fittings. They are always wonderful quality.
BOUKE DE VRIES - conservator who creates sculptural pieces from broken antique ceramics
For years, I searched for somewhere that could make Perspex display cases and mounts to my specifications. I managed to scrape together what I needed from various different sources, only to discover that Denny Plastics (dennyplastics.co.uk) was a short walk from my home in west London. I haven't gone anywhere else since.
Transport
SAM PRATT - co-founder of Gallery Fumi
Shipping is a big part of what we do at the gallery and we can't get it wrong. For moving valuable pieces around and on tight schedules, Hedley's Humpers (hedleyshumpers.com) and Cadogan Tate (cadogantate.com) are the absolute best.
SARAH MCCRORY - director of Glasgow International Art Fair
Shipping art well is incredibly important, and Williams & Hill (williamsandhill.com) is always helpful and professional when dealing with the confusion that is art import and export.
BRYONY HARRIS - assistant curator at Whitechapel Gallery
We rely upon the expertise of the art handlers Martinspeed (martinspeed.com) mainly for transportation, but they can also install anything from miniatures to Old Masters. It is hugely reassuring to know that artwork entrusted to their care will be treated with the appropriate respect, discretion and diligence.
Restoration
Robin Stewart - art specialist at Sotheby's
We use different restorers for different sorts of pictures: Hamish Dewar in St James's (hamishdewar.co.uk) for traditional paintings; Jane McAusland (janemca@globalnet.co.uk) for works on paper; and Sarah Peek (sarahpeek.co.uk) in Brighton for ceramics. For general restorations, Plowden & Smith (plowden-smith.com) in south London covers almost every base.
JENNY BLYTH - gallerist and ex-curator of the Saatchi Gallery with 25 years of experience in contemporary art
Carolyn Horton (07968-269285) is one of the leading restoration experts in Europe and can turn her hand to anything from Old Masters to contemporary pieces. Recently, a photograph at the gallery arrived with a watermark, and she managed to repair it immaculately. She comes highly recommended.
MIKE GAUGHAN - Gallery Manager at Serpentine Galleries
I have known and worked with the sculpture conservator Lyndsey Morgan of Patina Art Collection Care (patinaart.co.uk) in Baldock for many years. She has restored artworks by big-name artists for the gallery, and has the ability to carry out work that requires the utmost concentration in a busy environment. Her advice and recommendations have always proved faultless, and working with her is an enjoyable experience.
Making
HANNAH MCANDREW - slipware potter who uses traditional techniques to produce contemporary pots
For kilns, the very best place that I know is Northern Kilns (northernkilns.com) in Lancaster. It designs and builds kilns and is fabulous to work with, and has built my electric kiln specifically to my requirements and the quality is far superior to any other I have seen or used.
JON BUCK - sculptor whose work is concerned with human and animal forms
For more than 30 years I have worked in collaboration with Pangolin Editions (pangolin-editions.com) in Gloucestershire to realise and transfer my sculptures from their original materials of clay, plaster and resin into the more durable materials of bronze, iron, copper, silver and gold. Over the years, we have developed together many innovative and original ways to colour and finish my work, and in that time it has expanded from a small team of craftsmen into the premier casting and fabrication foundry in the world.
MAGGI HAMBLING - figurative painter, sculptor and printmaker
All my sculpture in bronze is cast at Arch Bronze Foundry (archbronze.com) in Putney. From the beginning they have responded to my maquettes with sensitivity and work with me to achieve the final piece. Along the way, we laugh a good deal, which is vital.
Like this? Then you'll love
PAD: The Fairest of the Fair
Written by admin
