Christmas Gifting Guide

30 Nov

Buying art as a Christmas gift can be challenge, so we’ve put together this quick guide on some of our top picks and top tips for this festive season.

What is their style?
It’s easy to be swayed by your own tastes and styles when buying art as a gift, but think about what they might like and what would work in their space. Do they live in a minimalist home, so they might want simple line drawings or monochrome works? Is their house full of colour and vibrant furnishings, so a colourful piece would fit right in! Consider the practical things too: what will fit into their home and life - a family with young children and pets might not thank you for a fragile sculpture and a friend in a small flat might not have space for a large painting!
Be inspired by your memories
If you’re stuck on where to start with your gift, think back on some of the memories you have shared. Did you go on an amazing holiday together or did you meet through a shared interest? These can be great places to get going. Think about their own passions and hobbies too - do they love nature and animals, or a certain sport or place? If they love entertaining or drinking coffee, why not think about a ceramic gift? These espresso cups by David Stonehouse (pictured below) are the perfect combination of practical and beautiful! Remember, art is not just what is on your walls; it includes glass, ceramics, jewellery and so much more too.
Set a budget
It’s a good idea to think about how much you would like to spend on this person before setting out to buy art as a Christmas gift. There are works of art to suit all budgets and a limited edition print might be a great place to start, such as this Jesus Bird print by Roger Law (pictured below). You can read our guide on buying prints here. Deciding whether you are going to buy a work framed, get it framed or gift it unframed is another budget consideration. Gifting unframed will give you a bit more budget to play with, but there’s also something lovely about giving a ready to hand piece of work. You might want to consider works that don’t have to be framed, such as this oil painting by Rosemary Cullum, Life Force (pictured below). Painted onto canvas, this works can be hung directly onto the wall or framed - it’s down to personal choice. If you’ve fallen in love with a work of art for someone in particular but it’s a little out of your budget, could you ask friends or family to chip in too?
How long have you got?
The longer you can give yourself, the better, particularly if you are considering framing the works as this can add a few weeks! If you’re buying online, check delivery times (and costs!), especially at Christmas time when things take that little bit longer. A Christmas exhibition, like the one at Fen Ditton Gallery, is a great place to view a range of works at affordable prices under one roof. Like a shop, you have the option to take the work of art away with you there and then, no shipping costs and delivery times!
Ask the experts!
Don’t be afraid to reach out to gallerists for advice on buying art as a Christmas gift, particularly if you are short of time or looking for something in particular. They would be happy to offer suggestions and advice on getting the perfect piece for your loved one.

Here’s Hannah’s top picks for Christmas gifting this year. All these works are available at the Fen Ditton Gallery Christmas Exhibition, from Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th December. The exhibition is open daily from 10am - 5pm.

Are you a Young Collector? Members are invited to come and join us for a festive drink at our Christmas Social on Thursday 2nd December from 6pm - 8pm. Register here.