RETAIL therapy, that morale-boosting splurge on an outfit, an expensive handbag or shoes, is all too common, but have you ever felt the same need to splash out on art?

You might be surprised to learn that art features on the shopping list for more and more women, who are melting the credit card to buy wall candy - paintings and prints to dress their walls.

For fashionistas, buying the work of a hot' artist gives the same thrill as getting a must-have Prada handbag or a couture dress.

It's about possessing something special and exclusive that makes friends suitably envious, and might even turn out to be an investment.

Men have a slightly different take - they're starting to perceive art as a status symbol, like a top-of-the-range car.

Nicky Wheeler, director of the Affordable Art Fair in London, says: People aren't just recognising how important art is for their homes but also becoming more confident about choosing and buying it. We see women, in particular, turning to art as a way of giving their homes individuality and to make a statement and express their personality and style - in the same way as they shop for clothes or shoes.'' Apparently it's the power of the sisterhood, as Nicky says: Women are greatly influenced to buy by seeing art hung in their female friends' houses, then want to make their own statement and will be quite adventurous.

Whereas, in general, we find men are much more inclined to be conservative and set in their taste.'' That's all very well, but what about the rest of us who feel nervous about taking the plunge into original art and lack the confidence to buy anything other than mass art' sold by the high street stores?

Elinor Olisa, who co-owns, with Isobel Beauchamp, the Empire gallery in London and online company www.degreeart.com, sympathises: A lot of people feel the so-called artworld isn't accessible to them and it's too risky.

So getting started can be hard for them.

They worry friends won't like their taste, and find it hard to work out how much something is really worth - it's probably not an item they've bought before - so why should they?'' In reality she says: Nowadays, it's perfectly possibly to buy affordable, original art.

Don't be afraid if you like something to ask questions at a gallery or fair and if possible talk to an artist about it.

They should be happy to tell you anything you want to know. It will help you make up your mind, and give you more of an idea of the work involved and why it's the marked price.''

10:14am Friday 11th April 2008

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