Specialist
Art Finance
For buying and refinancing high-value paintings and fine art
Speak to us today...
For buying and refinancing high-value paintings and fine art
Speak to us today...
High quality art finance solutions for UK & international clients.
We can deliver enhanced, bespoke or exclusive terms through our market knowledge.
Call us on 0203 900 4322 to discuss your requirements.
Purchasing a fine work of art is a special occasion that deserves careful planning. Top artists like Picasso, Warhol, and Basquiat can command high prices, with costs ranging from £50,000 to over £100 million. Whether you desire an Old Master painting, a contemporary sculpture, or a rare photograph, finding the right financing can make owning an exceptional artwork more accessible.
Spreading payments over time allows you to enjoy displaying your dream art today while paying for it gradually. Art loans and leasing agreements are tailored finance solutions that help make fine art affordable. With our guidance, you can choose the ideal financing option based on your budget and ownership goals.
If you want to buy fine art in the UK, you have several finance options to choose from. Each option has its own features, benefits and drawbacks. Depending on your personal and financial situation, you can choose the one that suits you best:
Art finance is a form of leasing, where you pay a monthly fee to display an artwork, but you do not own it. The monthly fee is based on the depreciation of the art over the lease term, and the residual value at the end of the lease. The residual value is the estimated value of the art at the end of the lease, which is agreed upon at the start of the contract.
The advantage of art finance is that you can enjoy a new artwork without having to pay the full price upfront. You also have lower monthly payments than other finance options, as you are only paying for the depreciation of the art.
Art finance is similar to asset finance, which is a general term for leasing any kind of asset.
At the end of the lease, you have three options, you can either:
An art loan is a form of credit, where you pay a deposit and then monthly instalments to buy the artwork over a fixed period of time. The monthly instalments include both the principal and the interest, and the interest rate is usually fixed. The art is the collateral for the loan, which means that if you fail to make the payments, the lender can take back the art. This is similar to hire purchase, which is a type of asset finance that allows you to own the asset at the end of the contract, after paying a final option to purchase fee.
The advantage of an art loan is that you can own the art at the end of the contract, and you can choose the deposit and the duration of the contract to suit your budget. You also have the option to settle the loan early, by paying the outstanding balance and a small fee.
By partnering with art financing experts like us at Clifton Private Finance, you can select the ideal agreement for your budget and goals. We'll explain all the options in detail during a free consultation.
Some of options include:
Art finance is a niche sector that offers various financial solutions for collectors, dealers, and investors who want to acquire or leverage fine art as an asset. This type of finance also provides liquidity, flexibility, and tax benefits for those who want to diversify their portfolio, optimise their cash flow, or plan their estate.
The UK is one of the leading markets for art finance, as it has a vibrant and diverse art scene, a strong legal framework, and a favourable tax regime. According to the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2021, the UK accounted for 20% of the global art market sales in 2020, second only to the US.
The value of art as an asset is determined by various factors, such as the artist, the provenance, the condition, the rarity, the demand, and the market trends. Some artworks can fetch staggering prices at auction, reflecting their historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance.
An example of a high-value artwork sold at auction is Gustav Klimt’s Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan) (1917), which sold for £85.3 million ($106.8 million) at Sotheby’s in London in 2020, becoming the most expensive work by the Austrian artist ever sold at auction.
Art finance can enable clients to acquire or leverage such artworks, either for personal enjoyment, investment purposes, or philanthropic goals. However, art finance also involves some risks and challenges, such as the volatility of the art market, or authenticity and provenance issues. The process can be complex, with valuation and appraisal methods, the legal and regulatory frameworks, the insurance and storage costs, and the ethical and social implications.
Therefore, art finance requires careful planning, due diligence, and professional advice from experts in the field. We can help you through the process, and get you in front of the right people to finance art – don’t hesitate to get in contact today if you’re looking to finance fine art.
At the conclusion of art financing, clients have options depending on the original finance structure.
For an art loan, the client can simply pay the remaining balance to gain full ownership. Selling the art to pay off the loan is another possibility. The client could also refinance the balance on better terms.
With art leasing, the client can purchase the art at the pre-set residual value, return it with no further obligation, or leverage accrued equity towards a new art lease.
If the goal is ownership, a loan builds equity. If flexibility is paramount, a lease may be preferable. We can guide you in selecting the optimal art finance solution.
Partnering with a specialist art finance broker provides significant advantages for clients. The key benefits include:
As leading art finance experts, we simplify the process so you can focus on finding the perfect artwork. With many lenders at our disposal, we can find deals to suit your needs.
At Clifton Private Finance, we have a team of specialist finance brokers who can help you finance art in the UK. We can work with galleries, auction houses and artists to arrange your art finance plan and finalise your purchase. We can also help you finance emerging, modern and contemporary fine art, and offer the most competitive art finance service for you.
To find out more about our finance broker service, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We offer a free and no-obligation telephone consultation at a time that suits you.
Call us today to discuss your requirements on 0203 900 4322
I approached Clifton Private Finance to help me get a mortgage as an Expat working in the Far East. I would normally 'cut out the middle man' on something like this and try to get myself a deal directly with the banks, but I am now sold on the broker concept and wouldn't hesitate to use Clifton Private Finance again. There were a number of complicating factors such as being an expat, the stamp duty holiday, the sheer amount I wanted to borrow and the fact I wanted it all wrapped up before the Stamp Duty holiday ended. It is clear to me now that the relationship that brokers have managed to foster with their banks means they can simply pull levers and make stuff happen that us ordinary folk cannot. Put simply, they are worth every penny, will take most of the stress out of the lending process, and seem to have access to deals that you just won't find on the internet. Thank you George and Jan for all your hard work!
James M
Luther was excellent. Very clear in his advice and explanations of products and was able to move things on very quickly when we ran into difficulties with the estate agents. Without a doubt I would recommend Luther to all friends, family and colleagues. Luther was a joy to deal with and took a lot of the stress out of a troublesome transaction, from my end. I would view Luther as real asset to Clifton Private Finance Ltd.
William W
The team at Clifton Private Finance has been outstanding, not only in helping me to obtain a mortgage on a slightly unusual home, but also in continuing to provide support and liaise with the lender and solicitors through to completion. Thank you for making the process of buying my first home much easier.
Chantelle S
Sam O'Neill, and the new lender he identified for me, worked tirelessly together using my time constraints, to make sure my mortgage application was completed on time. They are a brilliant company to work with, fast, efficient, open and transparent from the very beginning, and turned a seemingly impossible situation into a viable one. Sam was brilliant throughout the whole process and I would highly recommend him, and his colleague Helen, to anyone without hesitation, I cannot speak highly enough about them.
Myr B
I was incredibly lucky to find Clifton Private Finance after a search on line as their service has been more than exemplary. My point of contact was Sam 0’Neill and he was happy to help at every stage during the application of the bridging loan, making a stressful process much easier to deal with. He was always available by phone or email and gave prompt answers to queries I had as well as always getting back to me when he said he would. That to me is excellent customer service and I cannot thank him personally or the company enough for the support they have given me.
C Jefferey
Adam cannot thank you enough for all your support throughout this arrangement. You have gone more than the extra mile to support us. Without you we would not have got our dream retirement home. You have been most professional and personable. Liz and I would be more than happy if you wanted to use us a reference with respect to any future clients.
Nigel & Liz K - Bristol
You have certainly shown me that you do everything for your clients, including tolerating their excessive emails and questions for updates. I have been kept in the loop, from yourself, about why the delays were occurring (Nationwide, post etc) which I would like to highlight that I really appreciated. I certainly will be able to recommend you to others as and when the need arises.
Mr Morris
I recently contacted Clifton Private Finance after a Google search for bridging finance providers and was immediately struck by their efficiency and support. Forms were emailed over almost immediately and the necessary finance was arranged within a few days. None of the other companies I contacted came close to their professionalism, and the quote that I eventually received was impressive. Thank you Adam, your help has enabled us to reserve the house that we wanted and I certainly recommend you to others.
Mr M. R. - Oxford
Absolutely brilliant. The service was first class, got everything sorted efficiently and were always friendly. Any fees were negligible compared to the service offered. Robert was particularly outstanding.
Charles N
My advisor, Robert, was very helpful in finding the mortgage to suit me. He kept me up to date throughout the process and dealt with any issues when they arose.
Rowena C
