FAQs

  • Investing in Art

    Who should buy rare art?
    - People seeking a decent return on their savings and investments
    - People seeking an investment that can be enjoyed in its own right
    - People who want to experience the joy of owning an artwork by one of the world's great masters.

    Why should I buy from Hidden?
    When buying from Hidden you’re buying from a team with a solid and demonstrable reputation. We are a bricks and mortar business that invests in the work with our own money and we treat your investment as we do our own.
     
    We’ve been involved in collecting for 30 years and have built a significant knowledge in the field, and a network of contacts around the world that enable us to stand by every work we sell. We take the guesswork out of buying rare art and provide the essential guarantees of authenticity and quality.
     
    The work we offer is largely sourced from international auction houses and renowned dealers and collectors worldwide, it is assessed for authenticity and quality by our experts, in addition to the scrutiny carried out by the vendors themselves. Consequently, we offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity on all the work we offer.
     
    We only offer art in fabulous condition, presented in a manner that will protect and enhance the work for years to come. We carry out any preparatory and conservation work, to ensure that when you take ownership of a work it is ready to hang and enjoy. (We work with an internationally renowned conservator, have our own framers and oversee every stage of the work).

    How do I get started?
    It’s possible to come into this field as either an art enthusiast, investor or both. It’s often the case that the two become blurred over time. Many of our clients who began by buying work purely for the joy of it, have become investors beyond their original scope of interest and similarly investors who began by collecting works purely as an investment vehicle have become passionate about collecting work by a particular  artist or movement.
     
    Whatever your initial rationale it can very quickly become a fascinating field, after all that’s how I started!
     
    Having discussed your aims, budget, and interests, we will make recommendations of work that might fit the bill. If we don’t have that work currently in stock, we will source it for you or suggest alternatives. If it’s an investment portfolio you require we will match the contents to the return you anticipate.
     
    Alternatively, it may simply be that you’ve seen work on our website that interests you. If so, we’ll discuss the relative merits of the work with you. Rest assured that the majority of works we offer have been chosen with future value growth in mind and if it hasn’t, we’ll tell you.
     
    Our aim is to make buying art fun and transparent. Whether you visit one of our galleries, browse our website or call for a chat we’ll aim to demystify investing in art and leave you with a sense of why we are the first choice for many clients making their first purchase.

    People say buy what you like but are there certain genres and styles that are worth keeping an eye for investment purposes as well?

    When buying for investment, select work that is recognisable to the artist, instead of focusing on a specific genre or style. For example, amongst our roster of established artists, the ‘Dove of Peace’ will always be iconic to Picasso, as with Warhol’s Soup Cans. The more recognisable an artwork is, the broader the market will be when it comes to finding a future buyer. At Hidden, we do the hard work for you and select pieces that are typical to an artist’s body of work. That means you can buy art you love from Hidden, with the peace of mind that your investment provides long-term security and liquidity.


    Should I buy art from established artists or emerging artists?

    Although there is a wonderful array of emerging artists, at Hidden, we have had great success with our investments by sticking to a set of guiding principles. This criterion enables us to focus only on work that we believe to be both aesthetically and financially sound. As a result, we generally offer work by pre-eminent masters of their craft or genre; household names with established track records of value growth and considerable potential for further growth. Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Damien Hirst, Salvador Dali, David Hockney and Andy Warhol for example are recognised the world over and have taken their place in the pantheon of the greats, which is why you’ll find them all under our roof.


    How do I ascertain an art dealer’s or gallery’s reputation?

    It is important to do your research when ascertaining an art dealer or gallery’s reputation. We would recommend only buying artworks from vendors you trust, especially when making high value purchases. Reviews provide an excellent way of gauging the reliability and respectability of a gallery, as well as considering the quality of service you receive when making an in-person visit or enquiring online. Websites should be comprehensive and accessible, providing contact information, detailed artwork descriptions and photographs. 


  • Artworks

    Do you provide guarantees of authenticity?
    Yes, we guarantee that all artworks bought from Hidden are genuine and authentic. We conduct detailed checks on all artworks prior to buying them and pride ourselves on our diligence and market knowledge. Please refer to our 'Why Hidden?' page for further details on the 'Hidden' value we bring to the process of buying art.
    Does the price include the frame?
    Yes, all our prices include framing by our own workshop in Bristol.
    Hidden Framers specialises in conservation and museum level framing. Our expert team have over 40 years of experience and are responsible for framing the rare works in Hidden's collection.
    We pride ourselves on treating each individual artwork with the due care and attention it deserves. Using archival materials wherever appropriate, our processes are reversible and protect your piece for years to come. In addition, our broad range of mouldings and carefully mixed paints allows us to produce personalised frames to compliment your work.  
    Can I spread the cost of the artwork?
    Yes! At Hidden, we believe art should be accessible. Therefore, we have interest-free instalment plans where our customers can spread the cost of their artwork over 12 months. 
     

    To take the work off the market, we require a 20% deposit. Then, the rest is paid off in equal, monthly instalments. During this period, Hidden will look after your artwork in our fully insured workshop. Once it is paid for, we will organise shipping or collection from one of our galleries. Get in touch now to discuss a tailor-made instalment plan to suit you.

  • Framing: Frequently Asked Questions

    What role does conservation play in framing?

    Picture frames generally serve two main purposes: they protect and visually show off the artwork. As the word suggests, 'conservation' grade framing refers to the materials and processes used to preserve the work for years to come. After all, there's no point in making a lovely frame if the artwork is going to fade over time. 


    What makes a frame conservation standard? 
    To be classed as conservation standard framing, all materials used must meet certain criteria and all processes undertaken must be fully reversible, leaving the artwork in its original condition. 

    What materials do you use? 
    Our frames are commonly made from obeche, tulip, ash or oak wood, which are hand-finished with our own stains, paints and waxes. All of our mount boards are atleast conservation grade, if not museum grade. We also offer different glazing options from standard float glass to museum grade glass and even UV protective acrylic when required. 

    What's the key to framing a picture well? 
    We treat each artwork on a case by case basis: what might work well for one image may ruin another. For example, where we would use use screws to hold a stretched canvas in a tray frame, we would never apply the same logic to a work of paper. Our frames are tailored to show off your artwork in the best possible way. 

    What makes Hidden Framing unique?

    We frame all of the rare works sold across Hidden Gallery. Our extensive knowledge in conservation and museum-grade framing, inaddition to our individual background in the arts, allows us to provide a fully bespoke framing service to individuals, businesses, artists and galleries. 

    Regardless if it's a Picasso or your daughter's drawing, we treat each artwork with the care and attention it deserves. 

     

    How would you suggest treating a framed artwork once it's left the workshop? 

    We always recommend that the work be hung away from bright and direct sunlight. Although UV glass blocks 99.6% of harmful UV rays, the 0.4% can still have an effect. Bear in mind even household lightbulbs emit small amounts of UV light.

    It is also important to keep the work stable in terms of heat and humidity. Never hang work above radiators or fireplaces, and be mindful of hanging on external walls as damp can collect in cold spots. 


    Do you just frame works on paper and paintings? 
    Although we specialise in framing these items, we have framed an array of ceramics, artefacts and tapestries, such as Grayson Perry's Gay Black Cats. If you have something a little different that you would like to frame, speak to one of our framers to discuss your options. 

    What is the most unusual thing you've framed? 

    We once framed a goat's head! Other highlights include a three-metre long Chinese scroll, fragments of dried petals from a wedding bouquet, a piece of the Berlin Wall and a knife signed by Steve-O from Jackass (which he had used to cut a lemon and squeeze the juice in his eyes). 


  • Payments & Invoices

    Is there any movement on the price?
    When it comes to pricing our work, we take a number of things into consideration. We only offer art in fabulous condition, presented in a manner that will protect and enhance the work for years to come. We specialise in framing rare and collectable work, so all our work is framed using conservation standard materials and 99.9% anti-UV glass. We carry out any preparatory and conservation work, to ensure that when you take ownership of a work, it is ready to hang and enjoy. On top of this, Hidden will issue you with a document that acts as a certificate guaranteeing the authenticity and quality, but also enables third parties to reliably identify the work. 

    With all that said, it is important to note that we value our work based on current market value. This is assessed by our experts who have over 30 years' experience in the field. We take into account a number of factors including but not limited to, desirability, age, quality, and rarity. As such, each piece has been carefully assessed for its investment potential and is priced accordingly. 

    We will always try and accommodate your requests if we can. It is always best to get in touch and we can discuss a number of options including our interest free instalment plans which will help you spread the cost.

    Can I request a VAT receipt?
    Please note that most of the artworks we sell are sold under the margin scheme, so you will not be able to reclaim VAT on the purchase. Full details on how this scheme works can be found on the HMRC website.

    What form of payment are available?
    You are welcome to pay in any of our galleries or over the phone with any of the following: 

    - Visa Debit, Visa Electron, Visa 
    - Mastercard, Debit Mastercard, Maestro
    - American Express 

    Payment by bank transfer can also be arranged - our bank details are at the bottom of your sales invoice.

    I have been contacted to say that Hidden's bank details have changed. Can this be trusted?
    In the interests of fraud prevention, please note that our contact details and bank details will not change. If you ever receive correspondence suggesting that they have, please contact us immediately by manually entering our phone number. We further advise that you contact us to confirm that we have received your payment (if not paying through the website). We take every reasonable precaution to prevent fraud, and we cannot be held liable for payments made to fraudulent third parties.

  • Delivery

    Do you ship worldwide?
    Yes, we ship worldwide. At the time of purchase, you will be asked for your shipping address and a quote will be provided. It is your responsibility to provide an accurate delivery address and to advise us of any special shipping instructions at the point of sale or immediately after.

    How will my artwork be shipped?
    All artworks are professionally packed to the highest standards by trained gallery professionals or our experienced logistics partners. We work in partnership with a number of specialise art couriers to offer the highest standard of service, offering both speed and efficiency as well as quality. Please see our Shipping Policy for more details, or feel free to get in touch with a member of our team.

    How much does shipping cost?
    We use a fully insured specialist courier to deliver our work across the UK and internationally. As a result, shipping costs will vary and can be determined on an individual basis at the point of sale.

    Does your quote include packing?
    If an artwork requires professional packing, including crating, additional costs will be factored into the quote provided.

    How do you pack the artwork?
    Most of the work we ship is framed, which means the work will either be packed using ___ or crated if going internationally. The work is then delivered by fully insured art courier to ensure that you have a stress-free delivery. Any unframed work is flatpacked between two MDF boards, using archival materials to protect the work in transit.

    How long will it take for my artwork to arrive?
    We aim to ship all domestic orders within 5 working days of receiving full payment. International orders will be shipped within 10 working days of receiving full payment. If there are any delays in shipping, we will get in contact with you as soon as possible and let you know the estimated timings for delivery. 

    Can I track my order?
    Our customer service team will keep you up to date via email, including sending out a shipping confirmation and tracking numbers.

    Can I collect from one of the Hidden locations instead?

    Absolutely, we are more than happy for you to collect from any one of our four galleries free of charge. We will discuss a suitable time for you to collect from your chosen location at the time of purchase.

    Will my purchase be insured in transit?
    Provided we arrange the shipping, we insure all artworks for their full value. We kindly ask you to notify us straightaway in the unlikely event of damage in transit. 

    The work has arrived damaged. What should I do?
    In the unlikely event that an artwork arrives damaged, please contact us immediately. If there is any noticeable damage to the packaging, please do not open it to inspect the artwork but contact us immediately for advice on next steps. Under our Terms of Business, it is the Buyer's responsibility to notify us of any damage within 5 working days. If you contact us after 5 days, we cannot accept responsibility for damage to the artwork as it will be difficult to prove when the damage occurred.

    Why am I being asked for ID prior to shipping?
    Since 10 January 2020, the 5th EU Money Laundering Directive has required art market professionals, including secondary market dealers (under which Hidden falls), to undertake anti-money laundering checks on all buyers who acquire a work of art priced at €10,000 or more (or have acquired more than one work of art with an aggregate price of €10,000 or more). We take our responsibility to comply with anti-money laundering regulations seriously and we ask you to respect this. While we recognise that it may be a minor inconvenience, if we ask you for proof of identification and confirmation of address, please understand that this is now a requirement placed on us by law.

    Do I have to pay import duty and taxes if I am from outside of the UK?
    Buyers ordering from outside of the UK may be required to pay import duty and/or taxes. Please note that any import taxes or duty are the responsibility of the buyer - this includes EU-based clients from 1 January 2021. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for import tax and/or duty charged by your local tax authority if you are importing a work of art ordered from us into your country.

  • Refunds & Returns

    What if I am unhappy with my purchase?
    In the unlikely event that you are not happy with your purchase, send us an email as soon as possible and we'll get back to you. We'll be happy to advise further and discuss your options. 

  • Selling Your Art

    Can I sell art I already own, through Hidden Gallery?
    Yes. At Hidden, we are passionate about providing the best quality art to our customers. If you own original work by one of the artists in our collection and are thinking about selling, please get in touch with James Pilsworth (james@hiddengallery.co.uk)

    How does it work?
    You can find out more at our 'Sell Your Art' page. Get in touch with our Buying Team and we can discuss whether we are happy to take on your artwork and what the next step is, including our commission structure. Your artwork will then be featured on our website and/or displayed in our galleries.

    What commission rate does Hidden Gallery take?
    Our commission rate depends on the work you are looking to sell and the current market value. Get in touch to discuss this in more detail.