Own Art

Above: Bayard’s Cove by Stephanie Dees

For many of us, buying or owning an original artwork or a bespoke hand-crafted piece may seem like a far-off dream, but with The Arts Council’s Own Art scheme that vision could become a reality. The scheme enables you to purchase works of art up to a value of £2,000 by spreading the cost over ten interest-free monthly instalments, and with eight of Devon’s top galleries signed up, you could be one step closer to starting your own original art collection.

With contemporary art and craft encompassing everything from conceptual art through to designer-made jewellery, you can buy paintings, sculpture, glassware, ceramics, photography, jewellery, furniture and textiles. Some galleries will even help you commission a bespoke piece so that you can create a truly unique gift or artwork that perfectly suits your taste and lifestyle.

Nick Capaldi from Arts Council England, South West says: "We’re continually aiming to encourage people to live with art they love. We also want to help local artists live by their creative output, and support galleries who sell high-quality contemporary art. Devon is home to a rich variety of artists, and local galleries provide an opportunity to own work that genuinely reflects the distinctive culture of the county."

Jolyon Bowman from White Space Contemporary Art in Totnes (www.whitespaceart.com) says, "What’s great about Own Art is its simplicity; everyone benefits - the artist, the customer and the gallery. We do a lot of business through the scheme and it’s always refreshing to see people who think they wouldn’t be able to afford it, actually buying a painting. Purchasing a piece of art can be a big hit in one go, but spread over ten months it’s no more than the cost of a meal out every month."

Tamsin Wilson from Totnes has used the scheme and says: "Every time I visited White Space I was tempted by the David Morgan paintings but couldn’t afford to spend so much money at once. However, I was thrilled when they told me about Own Art - being able to buy a painting in monthly instalments. It only took ten months to pay it off and all the time I had my lovely new painting on the wall at home."