Category Archives: Art

Art, Art and Crafts, Crafts, Food & Drink, News

More local artisans set to take over Aber Falls Distillery this weekend

Aber Falls Whisky Distillery has played host to a number of talented, artisan makers at the Abergwyngregyn site, at a trio of unique weekend events this October, and this weekend will see multiple artisans take over for a day at the Visitor Centre.

Dubbed ‘Artisans @ Aber Falls Distillery,’  this weekend sees five local business owners and creators taking over the distillery to display their crafts at stalls within the Visitors Centre.

Local businesses can be found offering a unique mix of artistry, creativity, and handmade goods. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, shopping for unique gifts, or simply looking for a delightful weekend outing, Aber Falls Whisky Distillery is open to visitors.

This follows the two earlier successful events this month, which saw Aled Lewis and Fad Clothing and Embroidery welcome guests to the Visitor Centre.

Aber Falls kicked off its October artisan weekends on 19th October playing host to Aled Lewis, an acclaimed photographer whose breath-taking work is currently featured in Oriel Môn. Aled’s stunning photographs capture the natural beauty of Wales in all its glory, and our visitors enjoyed browsing through his collection, chatting with Aled and, dare we see it, many also took home a piece of North Wales to adorn their walls.

Visitors to the distillery on Sunday 20th October were delighted to find Fad Clothing and Embroidery. Their custom-made clothing and embroidery pieces are crafted with care and attention to detail. From stylish garments to personalised gifts, our visitors enjoyed discovering a wonderful array of high-quality designs that blend tradition with contemporary style.

Sunday, 27th October 2024: A Day of Multiple Artisans

This weekend, the Distillery welcomes a fantastic selection of talented artisans set to take over at Aber Falls Distillery Visitor Centre, where Aber Falls’ third and final October artisan event will be an exciting showcase featuring five incredible local vendors:

  • Eryri Candles: Explore a range of handcrafted, aromatic candles inspired by the beauty of Snowdonia (Eryri). These eco-friendly candles are perfect for bringing warmth and cosiness into your home as the colder months approach.
  • Wonderland Cards/Gifts: Embrace the festive spirit early with Wonderland Cards and Gifts. Featuring a wonderful selection of Christmas-themed items, from handcrafted cards to unique gifts, this is the ideal stop for your holiday shopping.
  • Scribe n Graving: A blend of tradition and modern design, Scribe n Graving specialises in beautifully engraved products and calligraphy pieces. Perfect for personalised gifts or something special for yourself.
  • Silver by Victoria: Discover timeless elegance with Silver by Victoria, offering an exquisite range of handcrafted silver jewellery. Whether you’re looking for a delicate necklace or a bold statement piece, Victoria’s work is sure to impress.
  • Dad’s Cabin: For those who love rustic, handmade wooden creations, Dad’s Cabin brings unique woodcraft items that add a touch of nature to your home decor or make thoughtful gifts.

Carole Jones, General Manager at Aber Falls Distillery, said: “We have always been proud supporters of fellow Welsh businesses, and we’ve really enjoyed hosting a range of them at our site across October. It’s proving to be a fantastic series of weekend events and we’re hoping the success will allow us to put on further events like this and welcome more guests to our distillery in future.”

 

The events will be held from 10am – 4pm across the dates mentioned above at Aber Falls Distillery, Station Road, Abergwyngregyn, Llanfairfechan, LL33 0LB.

Those looking to learn more about Welsh whisky and Aber Falls Whisky can visit the distillery for a guided whisky tour or visit www.aberfallsdistillery.com.

 

Art, Driving, European News, Events, Marketing & PR, News

Yianni Charalambous hunts for Europe’s hottest new car wrapper

Roland DG, BWT Alpine F1® Team & Yianni Charalambous search for new car wrapping talent

Bristol, UK – 18th September 2024 – The demand for automotive personalisation and customisation has led to a boom in car wrapping across Europe, with wrappers able to expertly transform car exteriors into car masterpieces. Now Roland DG, the world’s leading provider of digital printing solutions, together with its technology partner BWT Alpine F1 Team, is looking to celebrate the best of the best as they launch the search for Europe’s next car wrapping superstar.

10 wrappers from across Europe will be selected to showcase their skills as part of ‘The Wrap Academy’ on 7th November 2024 at the Formula 1 team’s Technical Centre in Oxfordshire, UK. There, they will join celebrity car customizer, Yianni Charalambous, as well as a team of experts from BWT Alpine F1 Team and Roland DG, to compete for the ultimate prize: to join BWT Alpine F1 Team’s Wrap Crew at one of the most iconic motorsport events, taking place in Las Vegas in November. The winner will get unparalleled access to the fast-paced world of F1 car wrapping – from the pit stop to the wrap shop.

The participants will be challenged to showcase their accuracy, precision, and craft by going head-to-head, live wrapping the world-famous F1 team’s show car. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for participants to learn from the best in the industry, including the team that keeps BWT Alpine F1 Team looking slick on and off the track.

 

With over 6 million social followers, Yianni Charalambous will mentor the participants throughout the event. Car customizer to the stars, Charalambous has wrapped cars for everyone from Anthony Joshua to Harry Styles and is the owner of Yiannimize, a luxury car customisation garage based in London.

 

Commenting on the search for new talent, Charalambous said, “If someone had offered me an opportunity like this as I was establishing myself, I would have jumped at the chance. There are brilliantly talented car wrappers all over Europe, and this partnership with Roland DG and BWT Alpine F1 Team will give the lucky few a unique chance to learn from the best. It will no doubt accelerate what is possible for them in this industry.”

 

Stephen Davis, EMEA Marketing Director & UK President at Roland DG, commented, “We are always looking to support up and coming creative talent, and to do so by partnering with our partners at BWT Alpine F1 Team to give aspiring car wrappers a platform to elevate their craft, might just be the most exciting initiative we’ve launched to date. The Wrap Academy promises to be a highlight in the car wrapping calendar, providing access to invaluable insights and exposure to the best of the best in the industry.”

 

“We are thrilled to work with Roland DG to help nurture the next generation of car wrapping talent,” added Joe Mcnamara, Paint & Graphics Manager at BWT Alpine F1 Team. “Motorsports provides the ultimate testing ground to showcase the durability of our graphics and printing outputs under some of the world’s most challenging conditions – all fuelled by Roland DG’s print technology. Much like the spirit of Formula One, this event is all about discovering talent with a relentless drive for accuracy, precision, and high performance in the world of car wrapping. We look forward to seeing the creativity and innovation that the contestants will bring both to the table and the track.”

 

Are you a car wrapping business owner who thinks you’ve got what it takes to wrap like a champ? To enter, submit your application here: www.rolanddg.eu/en/landing-pages/wrap-academy. Entries close on 00.01 on 3rd October 2024.

Art, Business, Cardiff, Diversity & Inclusion, Events, Food and Drink, Hospitality

Live art and LGBTQ+ portraits for Pride at The Red Dragon Centre

CARDIFF Bay’s leading entertainment venue, The Red Dragon Centre, has teamed up with Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn to mark Pride month with a unique art installation and charity auction.

Nathan is a proud spokesperson for LGBTQ+ equality and often uses his art to reflect this. Specialising in creating pieces out of non-traditional mediums, Nathan was a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2011, and has also appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, This Morning and Good Morning America.

The showcase will be displayed from 31 May – 30 June, and will feature influential figures such as Cara Delevingne, Kit Connor and Elliott Page. Joining the lineup will be The Red Dragon Centre’s resident Capital Drive presenters, Josh and Kally, whose portraits will be made up of photographs sent in by listeners to celebrate 25 years of Pride in Wales.

The Welsh artist will also be appearing at the Centre for pop-up live art shows where he will create some iconic LGBTQ+ celebrities at the Centre, with ten portraits of his existing artwork being displayed in the Centre’s showcase.

An online auction will take place at the close of the showcase for Nathan’s portraits of George Michael made out of WHAM bars, and Ncuti Gatwa in a Doctor Who collage. The winning bids will be donated to Pride Cymru.

Nathan said: “I am delighted to be teaming up with The Red Dragon Centre’s Pride celebrations, and getting the chance to showcase some of most beloved LGBTQ+ figures out there. Co-in siding with the 25th anniversary of Pride in Wales makes this all the more special, and shows how important it is to continue to celebrate Pride month, and strive towards promoting LGBTQ+ equality in Wales, and beyond.”

Emma Constantinou, Marketing Manager at The Red Dragon Centre, said: “Pride is a wonderful and important month, and we feel very fortunate to be able to host our own celebrations at The Red Dragon Centre for another year. We are very grateful to Nathan for his support and generosity of offering his work to the auction, we hope visitors enjoy spotting their favourite figures at the showcase inside the Centre.

“This month is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the LGBT+ community with our showcase, and two lucky bidders can walk away with a unique portrait from Nathan, knowing that all money raised will be going straight to charity.”

The Red Dragon Centre is home to a multitude of interactive, lifestyle and food and drink venues including Odeon Cinema, the home of Wales’ only IMAX screen, and the Hollywood Bowl which have been key Centre attractions since the beginning.

The Centre hosts a range of additional brands that make up an intrinsic part of the entertainment and dining experience, including Grosvenor Casino, Five Guys, Spice Route, Volcano, EasyThali and Zaika.

The Centre is also the site of the Capital FM South Wales studio, which was formerly Red Dragon FM, as well as Heart FM. Today, you’ll find the likes of Josh and Kally broadcasting their Capital Drive Show live from there every weekday.

Art, Education, Events, Retail

The Red Dragon Centre celebrates Eid with vibrant community project

The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay’s bustling entertainment venue, is celebrating Eid with an art project in collaboration with Nathan Wyburn and Mount Stuart Primary School.

Pupils from Mount Stuart Primary School were welcomed to create a drawing of what Eid means to them, the drawings were then put into a breathtaking mural by Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn and has been displayed in the heart of The Red Dragon Centre for visitors to enjoy.

Nathan specialises in creating pieces out of non-traditional mediums and was a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2011, creating a portrait of judge Michael McIntyre out of Marmite on toast.

Accompanying the banner will be a balloon display to frame the mural and create a perfect picture opportunity.

Venues located in The Red Dragon Centre are also joining in with the celebrations. The ODEON, Wales’ only IMAX cinema, is showing specialised screenings on 9 and 10 April, and halal restaurants Spice Route and Zaika, and the café EasyThali, will be joining in with delicious Eid buffets available.

Emma Constantinou, Marketing Manager at The Red Dragon Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating such a wonderful time of year here at The Red Dragon Centre. It has been a joy to see local primary school pupils get involved, and the mural really shows how special this holiday is.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to the pupils at Mount Stuart Primary and Nathan Wyburn and for all their support in bringing this holiday to life.”

The Red Dragon Centre is home to a multitude of interactive, lifestyle and food and drink venues including Odeon Cinema, the home of Wales’ only IMAX screen, and the Hollywood Bowl which have been key Centre attractions since the beginning.

The Centre hosts a range of additional brands that make up an intrinsic part of the entertainment and dining experience, including Grosvenor Casino, Five Guys, Spice Route, Volcano, EasyThali and Zaika.

The Centre is also the site of the Capital FM South Wales studio, which was formerly Red Dragon FM, as well as Heart FM. Today, you’ll find the likes of Josh and Jess broadcasting their Capital Drive Show live from there every weekday.

Art, London News, News

Quintain Doubles Affordable Artist Space For Second Floor Studios &Amp; Arts At Wembley Park

Quintain, the award-winning developer behind Wembley Park, is strengthening its ties with Second Floor Studios & Arts as it confirms a new lease which will see the number of affordable artist workspaces more than double at Wembley Park, consisting of 56 studios, housing 80 artists.

The partnership between Quintain and Second Floor Studios & Arts began in 2016, with the first studios opened in 2018. This initial phase saw 6,880 sq. ft. of studio space built at Wembley Park. A long-term partnership, starting out as a ‘Section 106’ planning requirement, has already successfully ensured over 60% of the artists and makers are residents from the local London Borough of Brent.

The new lease will see the second phase of the affordable workspace launch, with a further 8,293 sq. ft. of studio space later this year, 25% more than required under Quintain’s planning permission. A total of 30 studios are to be provided and will be purpose-built for the visual arts, becoming home to local artists, makers and designers. Ground floor and first floor studios are provided along with a breakout area where artists and designers can come together and exchange ideas as well as a gallery wall where artwork, ceramics and designs can be displayed. All spaces are fully wheelchair accessible.

 

James Saunders, CEO of Quintain commented:

“It has been a privilege to work with Second Floor Studios & Arts to successfully support and boost the local creative community. We are committed to establish Wembley Park as a place for art and culture and have ensured that affordable space is provided so that local creatives can thrive.”

 

Nichole Herbert Wood, CEO of Second Floor Studios & Arts said:

“I am heartened to see the Quintain partnership that we have established since 2016 go from strength to strength, supporting an additional 40 artists. Thanks to backing from Quintain and Brent Council, we are pleased to provide affordable, long-term and high-quality studio spaces for artists which I believe is vital in order to protect the creative and cultural aspects of London and its communities.”

 

Councillor Shama Tatler, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Growth at Brent Council said:

“Our borough is brimming with creative talent and we’re committed to supporting local creatives to thrive in their hometown. Partnering with Quintain and Second Floor Studios & Arts, we’re delighted to be delivering 30 additional affordable workspaces in Wembley Park supporting even more local people to flourish.”

Art

March auction includes works by Sir Kyffin Williams and Henry H. Parker

A watercolour by famous Welsh artist Sir Kyffin Williams, OBE and a haymaking scene by English landscape artist Henry H. Parker are two potential stars of a fine art, antiques and jewellery auction in Shropshire next month.

 

Consigned by a Shropshire collector to Halls Fine Art’s March 6 auction in Shrewsbury, the watercolour and pencil painting, titled ‘Welsh Pony in Winter’, by Sir Kyffin (1918-2006) is expected to sell for up to £3,000.

 

A celebrated painter, who lived on Anglesey, his works typically drew inspiration from the Welsh landscape and farmlands.

 

The oil painting by Parker (1858–1930) captures haymaking in an extensive landscape by the coast and is expected to sell for up to £5,000.

 

Born in London,  Parker specialised in picturesque pastoral scenes, often featuring harvesting and haymaking, river and coastal landscapes and traditional rural buildings. Much of his painting was done in England’s southern counties.

 

“Haymaking and harvest scenes are always very popular at our auction and we are delighted to have a beautiful example of a work by Henry H. Parker in our March sale,” said Abigail Molenaar, Halls Fine Art’s paintings and prints specialist. “Parker painted similar scenes of haymaking on the Suffolk coastline.”

 

Always a popular subject in Shropshire, Abigail has a number of equestrian related paintings in the auction, including a portrait of Shropshire born, 26 times British flat racing champion jockey Sir Gordon Richards mounted on racehorse Rose of England, which is valued at up to £500.

 

Two other equestrian oil paintings are ‘Racehorse Tristan in a loosebox’ by Arthur Louis Townshend (1848-1927) and ‘Light Bay Hunter and Spaniel in a landscape’ in the manner of John Frederick Herring Senior (1795-1865), each valued at up to £1,200 and an oil on canvas after John Frederick Herring Senior of ‘Touchstone and Jockey in the Duke of Westminster colours’ valued at up to £600.

 

A beautiful collection of 47 delicate and detailed botanical watercolours, dating to the late 19th or early 20th centuries and showing British plants and flowers, is expected to fetch up to £600.

 

Watercolours are well represented with some good examples by artists including Helen Allingham (1848-1926), Louis Haghe (1808-’85) and Charles Edward Wilson (1853-1941).

 

For more information about the paintings in the auction, contact Abigail at Halls Fine Art on Tel: 01743 450700.

Art

Fine art team’s mission to discover treasures at antiques valuation events

Ever wondered how much a family heirloom is worth or whether items stored away in your loft or cupboard have any value?

Could a piece of jewellery or silver, a painting, an example of Asian pottery, an item of militaria, an old book, a stamp album or a coin collection, that has been in the family for generations, be a hidden gem?

The answers to all these questions and more will be available when a team of specialists from Halls, a leading regional fine art auction house based in Shrewsbury, hits the road for a series of free antiques valuation days this year.

The fine art team is adding Llandudno, Llangollen and Newtown to its list, which already includesSouthport, Ludlow, Montgomery, Whitchurch, Oswestry, Bishops Castle and Shifnal. Other locations are likely to be added during the year.

That’s in addition to regular free valuations events at Halls’ headquarters in Shrewsbury.

Alexander Clement, watches and Asian art specialist and senior general valuer, will be visiting Halls’ office at 8 Watergate Street, Whitchurch on February 27, April 23, June 25, August 27 and October 29, all from 10am to 2pm.

He will also be visiting the company’s Bishops Castle office from 10am to 1pm on February 28, April 24, June 26, August 28 and October 30.

The fine art specialists will be available for free valuations at Fishmore Hall, Ludlow from 10am to 2pm on March 13, July 17 and November 13, and at The Granary Art Gallery at Weston Park, Shifnal from 10am to 1pm on March 19, May 21, July 16, September 17 and November 12.

Halls’ office at 20, Church Street, Oswestry will host valuation sessions from 10am to 1pm on March 22, May 31, July 26, September 27 and November 29.

Alexander and Halls’ silver and jewellery specialist Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley will be available at Montgomery Town Hall from 10am to 2pm on April 4, June 6, August 1, October 3 and December 5.

Aleander, Maryanne and Abigail Molenaar, Halls’ paintings specialist, will be paying a visit to The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno from 10am to 2pm on April 18 and October 17. They will also be available at Dory Gallery, Llangollen from 10am to 2pm on May 3 and September 6.

Meols Hall, Churchtown, Southport is the venue for valuation sessions with Alexander and Maryanneon April 30 and September 3 from 10am to 2pm.

The company will also be holding a charity antiques valuation event at the Monty Club, Newtown on April 17 from 10am to 2pm to raise money for Marie Curie. Items will be valued in return for a small charge which will go to the charity.

Valuation sessions at Halls’ Shrewsbury headquarters, which are held from 10am to 2pm, includeBritish and continental ceramics and glass, with specialist Caroline Dennard, on February 9, May 24, August 16 and December 6.

Dates for Asian art valuations are February 19, June 3 and September 23. Modern and contemporary art: March 1 and July 1. Paintings and prints: April 26. Traditional and modern pictures: August 27, October 21 and December 16.

Jewellery, silver and bijouterie: March 11, May 10, July 19, September 13 and November 8. Watches:July 29 and November 18.

Militaria and medals: March 28, June 21 and October 10. Coins and banknotes, from 10am to 4pm:May 16 and September 5

Books, manuscripts and autographs, with specialist Chris Moore from 9am to 5pm: March 4, April 8, May 13, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4 and December 2.

Stamp specialist Andy Neal will be available from 9.30am to 4pm on: March 7, May 2, June 6, July 4, August 1, September 5, October 10, November 7 and December 5.

Anyone wishing to have collections or large antiques valued at any of the events may take along photographs to show the specialists. Those unable to attend valuations can contact the fine art team on Tel: 01743 450700. Visit https://fineart.hallsgb.com/ for information about forthcoming auctions

Picture captions:

Alexander Clement, Halls Fine Art’s Asian art and watches specialist and senior general valuer withsilver, jewellery and bijouterie specialist Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley (left) and Abigail Molenaar, paintings specialist.

Art, Marches, News, Shropshire

Distinguished Midlands surgeon’s art collection to be sold at two auctions

A single owner collection comprising more than 350 paintings, prints and sculptures which belonged to late West Midlands vascular surgeon Magdi Latif Obeid has been consigned to a leading Shropshire fine art auction house.

The collection will be sold over two timed, online auctions from today (September 29) to October 17 and as part of a modern and contemporary art auction running from  October 13 – 31.

The auctions will includes works by artists including Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe, Willem Sternberg de Beer, Hercules Brabazon Brabazon, George Clare, William Leighton Leitch, John Henry Henshall and Frank Wooton.

Mr Obeid (1943-2021) was a distinguished consultant general and vascular surgeon from the West Midlands whose passion for art led him to compile a significant collection which he began in the 1980s.

His discerning eye and deep appreciation for British 19th and 20th century art saw his collection grow and he contributed works to a number of exhibitions at institutions such as the Barber Institute of Fine Art and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Mr Obeid had a particular interest in artists from the West Midlands, the Newlyn School and was also a keen collector of contemporary art, especially from exhibitions at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

Having been raised in the Coptic Church he also acquired an interesting array of religious artworks and stained glass window designs.

“The scale and diversity of the collection exemplifies Mr Obeid’s profound love of art, which defined his collecting journey,” said Abigail Molenaar, art specialist at Halls Fine Art.

“It is always such a pleasure to handle a collection like this, one that has been put together from a sheer love of art and of collecting.

“Mr Obeid was a person who bought what he liked, sought out artists that he admired and brought together a really diverse and impressive collection.”

Mr Obeid was born in Khartoum, to Egyptian parents, and spent most of his career working in the West Midlands, including Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth and Dudley Road Hospitals, becoming a prominent specialist vascular surgeon.

Throughout his career, he made substantial contributions to the medical field, including serving on the intercollegiate board of examiners for general surgery and the council for the Association of Surgeons in Britain and Northern Ireland.

Interested buyers can view the collection at Halls Fine Art on the October 12 and 13. For further information, please contact Abigail Molenaar at fineart@hallsgb.com 01743 450 700.

Art, interior design, News, Tech

Ultra-realistic digital canvas from Vieunite transforms the way we connect with art in the home

Vieunite introduces the Textura Digital Canvas and online artist community to bring art into your smart home through the power of technology whilst showcasing UK creativity

 

The Vieunite Textura Digital Canvas is an ultra-realistic display that utilises texture-accurate technology with a diffused anti-glare finish that perfectly replicates the surface textures and details of artworks. Whether you’re an art aficionado or a casual collector, Vieunite allows you to display a collection of art in your home the world’s biggest galleries would envy.

Firmly positioning itself as the digital canvas for art lovers, Vieunite has developed an ever-growing community of leading contemporary British artists, allowing Textura Digital Canvas owners to purchase and display the very best of modern art in their homes through a unique marketplace that helps support the UK’s creative economy.

Designed from the ground up by Vieunite’s Birmingham based development team, the Textura Digital Canvas displays art and photography in a way that does justice to the craftsmanship involved in creating the pieces, through a seamless app to canvas experience. With its adaptive matte display, the canvas’ brightness can be controlled to best suit the artwork and lighting of the room, to create the ultimate accurate display.

Encompassed in a slender modern wooden frame the easy-to-mount 27” digital canvas is available with either a pine, birch, walnut or black finish, allowing you to match the canvas with your home’s décor.

“Along with my 15 years of experience in digital display technology, we have assembled a team of experts across art, software development and tech to create a truly ultra-realistic digital canvas,” explains Dr Baoli Zhao, Managing Director of Vieunite.

“But the canvas is just the start – we have created an exciting and ever-growing community of artists to display their work on the Textura Digital Canvas to help the technology we have created shine, whilst supporting the creative economy.”

Overseen by the brand’s Cultural Director, Dr Benedict Carpenter van Barthold, the company has established partnerships with The Royal Society and RBSA Gallery, as well as developing and curating exciting new collaborations with important contemporary galleries and individual artists, including from leading art schools such as Central St Martins and the Royal College of Art.

Straight out of the box, the digital canvas is easily set up by being plugged into the mains and paired with the intuitive Vieunite App through your home’s WiFi network. Here, users can choose between contemporary pieces from Vieunite’s growing artists’ community, including moving images, as well as classic artworks and even their own personal photos and videos. Using the app users can schedule what content is shown when, as well as programming the digital canvas to turn on and off automatically, only using power when needed.

The Textura Digital Canvas is available now from vieunite.com for £490.

Art, News, Security

Leading Corporate Security Firm Says Global Worth Of Arts And Creative Industries Increases Vulnerability To Fraud

KCS Group Europe Highlights Need For Thorough Due Diligence

Corporate security firm KCS Group Europe (KCSGE) warns that the rapid growth of the arts and creative sector in the UK has increased the need for thorough due diligence.

Globally, the net worth of the creative industries is worth 3% of world GDP. That includes television, visual arts, publishing, gaming and music. It is one of the UK’s fastest growing economic sectors, but with that comes risk.

KCSGE Director of Operations, Leon Goldman, says: “There is risk attached at a number of levels, ranging from art forgeries to AI in the music industry. Organisations do not always recognise the level of liability they have if it goes wrong.”

 

Full provenance checks should be carried out for all items acquired or on loan. These include establishing the legal owners of artefacts, consideration of theft and looting during conflicts, excavation, export and import and the transportation of objects.

 

Goldman adds: “These checks have become more complicated with the growth of internet sales and auctions. At the high end of the market, art dealers are accustomed to making these assessments – and still sometimes get it wrong – but with objects at the lower range, checks may be less thorough or entirely absent.

“The marketplace is littered with obscure provenances, secrecy and a lack of regulation. Not even art ‘experts’ can always agree.

“There are basic principles which can be applied – authentication, condition, title and provenance, legal compliance and valuation. And the buyer needs to ask themselves what level of recompense exists if the work is a forgery.”

For galleries and dealers, the cost of indemnifying forgeries is rising. Art dealers Sotheby’s, for example, has a five-year guarantee of refund.

 

There are occasions when items unexpectedly become popular. The Sunday Times reported that dinosaur bones are becoming a hot collector’s item. This week, the skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex fetched $6.1 million at a Swiss auction.

In the past, bids would have come exclusively from museums or academic institutions. Now these bones are being snapped up by the super-wealthy to decorate their homes, or corporate office blocks.

Fossil collectors, or commercial palaeontologists, dig out the bones in order to sell them. With record prices, it’s easy to understand why the less-than-scrupulous may be attracted to the trade.

 

The music industry is particularly vulnerable to copyright infringement. Within the past few days a song featuring AI-generated lyrics, purportedly from Drake and the Weeknd, has been pulled from streaming services after notching up millions of viewers and listeners on TikTok and Spotify.

 

Goldman points out: “Streaming platforms have a fundamental responsibility to prevent the use of material that damages the artist, or artists. However, the speed at which transmission takes place and the ability to use AI-generated content is a particular worry to those in the industry.

“The high stakes involved, and technology, may encourage conmen and tricksters, and new platforms make it more difficult to police. Due diligence could help to prevent personal losses and reputational damage to your organisation.”

 

Further information on the services provided by KCSGE can be found at www.kcsgroup.com