Used original artworks in the UK typically sell for £40 to £600 (about $54 to $810). Original art sells on attribution and provenance, so say exactly what you know about who made it and where it came from — and nothing you cannot support.
What original artworks are worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £600 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £510 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £390 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £270 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £150 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Signed works by artists with an auction record
- Documented provenance and exhibition history
What pulls it down
- Flaking paint and craquelure needing conservation
- Overpainting and amateur restoration
Selling an original artwork in the UK
Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands.
Royal Mail, Evri and InPost cover the whole country, and InPost lockers mean neither side has to be in for a delivery. Tracked 48 is the usual default for small parcels.
Two practical things shape a UK sale. Bank holidays and the run-up to Christmas slow collections right down, so build a few extra days in. And postage from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland, the Highlands and the islands carries surcharges that catch sellers out — quote for the buyer’s actual postcode rather than a flat rate.
Second-hand demand peaks in January, in the weeks before Christmas, and at the start of the academic year in September.
Working out what yours is worth
- Photograph the signature, the reverse and any labels
- Search auction results for the artist’s name
Getting it ready
- Photograph any signature, and check the back for labels, gallery stamps, inscriptions or exhibition stickers.
- Do not clean or restore it. Amateur cleaning destroys value far more often than it adds any.
Photograph
- The full work straight on in even daylight, no glare, no flash
- The reverse, showing any labels, stamps or inscriptions
- A detail of the surface showing brushwork or print texture, plus any damage
Put in the description
- Medium and support: oil on canvas, watercolour on paper, print and so on
- Dimensions of the work and, separately, the frame
- Signature and any inscription, transcribed as it reads
Medium, subject and attribution: “Original Oil on Canvas, Coastal Landscape, Signed, 60x80cm”. Say “signed” only if it is, and describe the signature rather than naming an artist you cannot verify. Framed or unframed belongs in the title too.
Pack flat with corner protectors and a rigid board either side, and never let the glazing sit against the surface. Consider removing glass entirely before posting, as it breaks and cuts the work.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £600 a buyer pays is the £600 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UK
The United Kingdom is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Kingdom with their own page for original artworks.
Common questions
Where can I sell an original artwork in the UK?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands.
Has it been restored?
Say what you know. Disclosed restoration is normal in the art market; undisclosed restoration discovered later is a serious problem.
How do I find out if a painting is valuable?
Identify the artist first, from the signature and any labels on the reverse, then search auction results for that name.
Should I have a damaged painting restored?
Get advice first. Amateur restoration and overpainting reduce value more than the original damage did.
More: how to sell an original artwork, what original artworks are worth, or Art & Collectables across the United Kingdom.