Member Article

Multi-million pound investment fuels Teaching Art’s acquisitive streak

Arts materials supplier Teaching Art Limited has acquired an online gallery operator hot on the heels of a £4m investment.

The Salford and Newark-based business has snapped up ArtGallery for an undisclosed amount, after PHD Equity Partners and Praetura Commercial Finance invested into the company two months ago.

ArtGallery, which is based out of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, allows artists to sell their creations online to buyers worldwide via its website.

Teaching Art’s plans extend to integrating the gallery business into its business as part of its members club, which now boasts over 43,000 members.

Overseeing the acquisition was Andy Dodd and Craig Richardson of PHD Equity Partners, who also played a key role in the investment into the company.

Dodd commented: “This acquisition is the first step in Teaching Art’s growth plans, and follows on very quickly from our recent investment.

“We see huge potential for the company to expand the services of the SAA, develop new products and services and grow its sales in Europe and beyond. We look forward to working with the management during this exciting phase of expansion.”

Carl Gamble, who joined recently as Managing Director to spearhead the company’s growth, said: “Artgallery.co.uk is one of the leading online gallery operators and will provide SAA members with a new channel to sell their work internationally.

“It is all part of our mission to ‘Inform, Encourage and Inspire’ artists across the UK and further afield.”

Founded in 2005 by husband and wife duo Aileen and Mike Mitchell, the pair are now looking to step aside from the business following PHD and Praetura’s investment.