Smart art

In recent years, more people have considered art and antiques as part of their pension provision. Personally, I think it unwise to buy art as an investment. Fashions change and prices go down as well as up.

If, however, you buy a picture that gives you great pleasure and which turns out to have risen in value that is an added bonus.

Choosing paintings can be a lovely adventure. In 1971, Roger and Sue Sansom embarked on such a journey when they purchased their first serious work of art. In 1989 they bought 41.

Their passion turned into a business and, since Roger's retirement in 2001, the couple have run a gallery in Wantage.

Here Roger and Sue offer readers the benefit of their experience.

How do you suggest people develop 'an eye' for pictures they like?

Practice, practice, practice! Look at as many paintings as you can and start to identify what you like and dislike.

Does the price vary for different mediums? And how do you tell a true watercolour from a print?

Price does vary by medium, but also by size and probably most by the name of the artist. For one particular artist and similar sizes, then oils will generally be most expensive, watercolours and gouache next, and drawings the least.

But the most important factor is quality as with most things in life and this comes back to talking to your friendly art dealer and just looking at as many works as possible. Without glass in front of them, it is usually obvious whether a work is a watercolour or a print, but glass can disguise that. You need to look closely and, if possible, take advice if in doubt.

Would you recommend limited edition signed prints by well-known artists?

Not personally. It is really a specialist field. One of the important factors apart from quality is the numbers involved. How many is 'limited'?

Why are many people nervous about entering galleries?

We thought exactly the same when we were thinking about setting up a gallery. It takes courage to even open the door and enter. I think one reason is that there are often no prices shown, and people like to know at least the region of the prices before they look.

You will find the same on some art websites no prices! We always have the exact prices marked in our gallery and on our website.

You can also try to make people less nervous. We try to create a relaxed atmosphere in our gallery.

As well as the paintings, we show pottery and glassware, a lot cheaper and also more familiar and accessible to people than some art might be.

We try also to use our newsletter to inform people not just about new shows in our gallery, but about topics of interest in the art world, other exhibitions in major London galleries.

The Mulberry Gallery, Market Square, Wantage. (Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm). Tel 0776 467 3734. www.mulberrygallery.com What advice would you give to a potential art collector?

Look at as many works as you can, take your time, take advice, and buy what you like. I would not really advise buying for investment. Many paintings will appreciate in value, but you need to be able to live with them on your wall every day of the year.

Once you have some idea on what you like, probably buy one good work rather than several cheaper ones. If you have doubts as to whether it will suit your room, ask to borrow it on approval to try it out. And one warning just as different people have different tastes in art (it would be very boring if they did not), do not be surprised if your partner likes different works to you. You might need to agree that one of you selects the first purchase and that next time it is the other's turn!

How should those of us who aren't millionaires start a collection that has 'quality'? If making a first purchase of original art what price range would you recommend?

Look, take advice, learn. We are more than happy for folk to come into the gallery regularly, look at the different exhibitions, and ask about the paintings and the artists. We are collectors first and foremost, and enjoy such discussions. We do not expect people to buy every time they come to see us.

Price is more difficult. We have some works between £100-£200, often pastels or watercolours, and there is a good selection in the mid-£100's. Well-known Royal Academicians are likely to be over £100, mostly well over! I guess a £500 budget would give you a good choice.

What judgements do you use when buying pieces for the gallery and what are your favourites in stock at the moment?

The judgement ought to be 'is it commercial? Will it sell?' But usually we buy what we like! We like paintings that are impressionist rather than too much of a photographic image, though we can still appreciate the skills of the artist in producing such detailed works.

As to favourites, we carry a large stock and therefore it is a difficult question. Let me give three examples that I really like at present. First a drawing, Pigtails by Paul Wyeth (1920-83) which is under £300, a small oil by one of our favourite artists lames Horton (Fusina Canal, Venice, at around £600, and another oil, The Piano Player by Kathleen Guthrie (1905-81) at about twice that price. All three I would have on my wall at home!

The Mulberry Gallery, Market Square, Wantage. (Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm). Tel 0776 467 3734. www.mulberrygallery.com