Zoo Art Fair even has its own ‘editions
booth’, with limited works ranging in price
from £10 to £4,000.
Susanna Beaumont, director of the
doggerfisher gallery in Edinburgh,
believes that it has never been easier
to buy art, particularly with many
galleries now allowing buyers to pay in
installments. Her advice for first-time
collectors? “Go into galleries and ask
questions,” she says. “Don’t be nervous,
or afraid to have your own opinions. Art
should never be intimidating, and it isn’t
about trying to catch you out. Just find
something that moves you. And above
all, enjoy it.”
Like any investment, it’s worth taking
your time before you dive in headfirst.
“When you find an artist whose work
you are considering buying, find out
what will be happening next for them.
This will give you a good idea of
whether they are driven and have
long-term plans to be making work in
the future. Also, make sure you check
out their accomplishments; shows
they’ve been in, awards they’ve won,
positive reviews they’ve received. All
of these things will help you gauge
their status and determine their value
for money,” says Medeia Cohan-
Petrolino, University Curator at
London’s University of the Arts.
There’s never been a better time to
flex your culture muscle and dip a toe
into the art world. So take a detour
from Selfridges next Saturday and
check out the nearest gallery instead.
You never know, you might just spot
Angelina picking up another Banksy
to add to her collection.
Collector’s
Handbook by
Louisa Buck and
Judith Greer
(Cultureshock
Media, £14.95) for
a comprehensive
and readable
guide on how to invest in art.
X Newbloodart.com, eyestorm.
com and britart.com have some
of the best online collections of
contemporary artists around.
Keep your eye on new artists
without leaving your living room.
X Art2bank.com is a great site
for people seriously interested
in investing in art. It gives
comprehensive market analysis
on artists, investments and art
news so you can make an
informed decision before
investing your cash.
BEST�FOR�
BARGAIN�LUNCH
Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
This handsome, redbrick gallery, part
of the University Of Manchester,
boasts a lovely little lunch venue
(it closes at 4.30pm, so dinner’s a
no-no) run by the award-winning
Modern Caterer. Ticks all the
Fairtrade, organic, locally-sourced
boxes, has a homely feel with fresh
flowers and chalkboard menus, while
mains cost under a fiver.
Oxford Road, Manchester M15, 0161-275
7450; whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
BEST�FOR�
GEORDIE�GLAMOUR
Biscuit Factory, Newcastle & Baltic
Centre, Gateshead Beyond the Angel
Of The North, there’s a thriving
Tyneside arts scene. The Biscuit
Factory gallery boasts both the Byker
Vista cafe and Brasserie Black Door.
Across the river at the Baltic Centre,
rooftop restaurant Six offers a truly
delicious modern British menu.
Biscuit Factory: 16 Stoddart St, Newcastle
NE2, 0191-260 5411; thebiscuitfactory.
com. Baltic Centre: South Shore Rd,
Gateshead, 0191-440 4948; balticmill.com
BEST�FOR�
COCKTAIL�SIPPING
ICA, London Newly refurbished
by renowned restaurateur, Oliver
Peyton, this brightly-coloured bar/
canteen is as smartly cool as you’d
expect from one of London’s liveliest
arts venues. Sip cocktails and graze
on sharing plates, while nodding your
head sagely to the regular DJ sets.
And if you're planning to stay till late,
make sure you have your dancing
shoes, as things can get pretty lively.
12 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1,
020-7930 3647; ica.org.uk
THE COLLECTORS
The six best gallery restaurants and bars
BEST�FOR�
ICONIC�VIEWS
National Portrait Gallery, London
The Trafalgar Square attraction
couldn’t be more central yet its
rooftop Portrait Restaurant is an
oasis of upmarket calm. It’s newly
refurbished in leather and wood,
is busily buzzing and serves classy
Conran-style Brit-Euro fusion fare.
Best of all are the spectacular views
over the capital, from Parliament
to the London Eye.
St Martin’s Place, London WC2,
020-7312 2490; npg.org.uk
BEST�FOR�
BEST�FOR�
DESIGNER�BRUNCH CHELSEA�CHIC
Lighthouse, Glasgow Scotland’s
Saatchi Gallery, London As Mr
Mackintosh-designed Centre for
Nigella, Charles Saatchi certainly
Architecture and Design is topped knows his food — hence his gallery’s
with the Doocot Cafe (that’s dove really rather gorgeous new restaurant,
coop in ye olde Scots, as it used to Gallery Mess. Serves high-quality
house The Herald newspaper’s carrier breakfast, as well as reasonably
pigeons). Any cooing these days is priced lunch and dinner. Eat while
at the monochrome interior and
admiring the tastefully minimal
superior brasserie-style food. Not decor, lovely views over the
open at night, but ideal for a stylishly gallery lawns… and artwork
laid-back lunch with friendly service. on the walls, obviously.
11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow G1,
King’s Road, London SW3, 020-7730
0141-221 6362; thelighthouse.co.uk 8135; saatchi-gallery.co.uk/gallerymess PHOTOGRAPHY��PILE�UNO��AND�THREE�DETAILS��©�ALEXANDER�HODA��������COURTESY�OF�THE�SAATCHI�
WWW�STYLIST�CO�UK����
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