Where Art and Law Meet

Arthur Byng-Nelson and his team love art, it’s their passion. Here, Arthur shows how he can ensure that artists and their estates can be protected, through focused legal and strategic advice.

One such client is the internationally-renowned artist Hew Locke RA OBE.

Readers in the USA might recognise his work “Gilt”, commissioned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2022.  The sculptures, embellished with details drawn from six objects in The Met’s collection, occupied niches at the main entrance to the museum:

 

Through his creations, Hew encourages his audiences to look afresh at how items in public collections came to be there and why certain persons are afforded a public sculpture, exploring in his work themes of ownership, history and identity.

“Gilt”, a spectacular work on a grand scale, is now on loan to Compton Verney art gallery and park in Warwickshire. Here is a photograph of Arthur on site celebrating its arrival in the UK:

 

When Hew Locke was commissioned to create an exhibition for the British Museum entitled “what have we here?”, Arthur and his team advised the artist on the negotiation and agreement of terms between museum and artist. Here is Hew with The Watchers, being some of the sculptural works that Hew made for the commission, who observed visitors from vantage points around the exhibition:

 

The Art & Heritage team understand the nuances of the art market and have a genuine passion for the art world. Arthur Byng Nelson was recently recognised in Chambers High Net Worth Guide in the Art & Cultural Property rankings.

We provide comprehensive legal and strategic advice tailored to living artists, the representatives of deceased artists, art collectors, private galleries and heritage estate owners, balancing legacy preservation with wealth and succession planning.

Key Services

• For Living Artists: End-to-end support covering legacy protection, artist representation and consignment contracts, exhibition terms, business structuring, foundations and estate and succession planning.
• For Collectors & Estate Owners: Complete guidance on title transfers, taxation, collection management, family governance and national tax-relief schemes (such as Acceptance in Lieu, Cultural Gifts, and Offers in Lieu).
• For Galleries & Dealers: Cross-departmental legal support covering sales agreements, artist representation, employment contracts, commercial real estate leases, and dispute resolution regarding authenticity, title, or contract breaches.
• For Philanthropic & Cultural Entities: Structuring trusts, private charities and cross-border sister entities (including US/UK dual-qualified charitable structures) to preserve and maintain art collections and historic properties.

For more information about the Art & Heritage team, or the Private Wealth team more generally, speak to Arthur Byng-Nelson on Arthur.ByngNelson@sherrards.com or 020 7478 9010.