How to spot the next Banksy or Hockney - for as little as £500

How to spot the next Banksy or Hockney - for as little as £500 By TOBY WALNE Updated: 21:50, 19 April 2025 e-mail View comments Investing in art is often seen as an elite pursuit only affordable to the super-rich. But today, the most successful area of the market is not multi-million-pound pieces by world famous artists – it's works that cost between £100 and £4,000 from relative unknowns. Worldwide sales of pieces worth less than €4,400 (£3,800) rose in value by 7 per cent last year and the number sold rose by 13 per cent, the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report claims.

They bucked an overall decline, with the value of art sales falling by 12 per cent – totalling €50.5 billion (£43.5 billion) globally last year.



The number of pieces sold at auction for more than €8.8 million (£7.5 million) saw one of the largest drop-offs, too, falling by 39 per cent.

So what works can you buy on a budget that could prove to be a shrewd investment? Growing popularity There is no watertight formula for finding pieces that will attract buyers both now and when you come to sell. Bold palette: Experts say it is wise to buy into signature styles that will stand out when it's time to sell However, Jane Verity, of trading website Artfinder, suggests collectors look at the types of artists that are proving popular for inspiration. The price of pieces by Niki Hare have risen by 100 per cent over the past 12 months, for instance.

Her bold, coloured letters style of artwork stands out – the piece Life After Cigarettes now sells for £7,000 compared with £3,500 a year ago. Quirky humour can also help attract interest. For example, Thai artist Ta Byrne has seen values soar 70 per cent over the past year with her strange egg people designs.

A painting such as Egg Girl In Green recently sold for £1,015. The same piece might have been £600 a year ago. Another recent winner is the colourful cartoon artist Kev Munday, whose almost childlike style has risen by an average of 60 per cent over a year.

Ties That Bind Us Together is available for £750; it cost £500 a year ago. Lilia Orlova-Holmes, who creates more classical landscapes, has seen values leap by 50 per cent. A painting such as Spring Day sells for £9,900 but a year ago it may have fetched less than £7,000.

Finding a financial winner is not guaranteed – it is impossible to bank on future tastes, or be sure of securing a keen buyer when selling. The best gamble is likely to be locating works that you love and will enjoy owning. Then, if they rise in value, it is an added bonus.

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Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP What you need to know about money every week: This is Money podcast Browse the dealers A look around high street galleries will give you a feel for the types of pieces you like. Options are also growing online, with website such as Artfinder.com, Artsy.

net and Artgallery.co.uk listing thousands of pieces to purchase.

Ms Verity says that the growth in online options is behind the rising interest in relatively affordable art. Buyers can browse and invest without feeling intimidated – and discover artists they might not otherwise have come across. 'The art world does have its fair share of snobs, and those elite galleries where you have to ask the price can be intimidating,' she adds.

'This is where we step in. Our average price for a one-off original is £500 and we list 300,000 pieces online. It enables everyone to get involved and buy what they love.

'It is hard to say what will do well, but artists with a signature style can stand out from others. But it is not a case of the more you spend, the more likely a piece becomes a great investment. You can budget from £100.

' For those seeking the most popular trends that might rise in value, it's worth noting that almost a third of purchases made on Artfinder are of landscapes, sea pictures or the sky. People and portraits make up about 20 per cent while close to 15 per cent are of animals or birds. The top animal is the cat, followed by horses and dogs.

Abstract art accounts for 13 per cent of purchases and still life 4 per cent. View in person An art fair is a convenient way to study the market. Events are advertised in publications such as the Antiques Trade Gazette but there is also an Affordable Art Fair where more than 100 galleries across the country showcase thousands of paintings from £100 to £10,000.

The next event is held on May 7 to 11 in Hampstead, north-west London. Entry is £14. Hugo Barclay, the fair's director, says: 'There really is no substitute to seeing art in person.

At a fair you speak to art dealers who provide the back stories behind an artist. This can help you better appreciate a piece and understand why it is worth collecting and putting on the wall. 'Over time we all want to see our art rise in value but, of course, there is no guarantee.

However, every great artist has to start somewhere – so if you want to discover the next Banksy or [David] Hockney, you need to buy art.' Another option is to visit an end-of-degree art college sale to potentially find a great creator of the future as they begin their careers. These are held in the summer and venues to consider include the Royal College of Art in Kensington, west London, where Hockney studied, as well as the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, also in the capital.

Consider how to sell Making a profit from art is challenging. Online dealers, trade fairs and galleries negotiate directly with artists, and are rarely interested in the secondary market. If you want to sell, the best option might be to go to an auction house.

The Antiques Trade Gazette can provide detail of auctioneers in your area. And Mallams, which has bases in Oxford, Cheltenham and Abingdon, holds regular art sales – the auctioneer provides free valuations and charges a 16.5 per cent fee of the hammer price for pieces worth up to £3,000.

If the painting sells for more than £3,000, there is a charge of 11.5 per cent. You must also consider the taxman when selling art as you may incur capital gains tax .

A basic-rate taxpayer pays 18 per cent, and higher and additional-rate taxpayers pay 24 per cent. Everyone has a tax-free allowance of £3,000 for gains each year. This is Money podcast Will interest rates keep falling and what does it mean for you? How much do you need to earn to feel rich - is £100,000 enough? Why Donald Trump's tariff shock rocked the markets Rachel Reeves is between a rock and a hard place Are two year fixed rate mortgages back in fashion? Is it finally time for the UK stock market to shine? More This is Money podcasts Share or comment on this article: How to spot the next Banksy or Hockney - for as little as £500 e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links.

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