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For this guide, Addi Aegisdottir, Sales Director at The Federation of British Artists, and Patrick Cullen, NEAC President, have shared their top tips on what to look for when building a figurative art collection.
Mall Galleries on London’s Mall is the home of The Federation of British Artists, a visual arts charity giving art lovers the chance to buy some of the UK’s finest figurative art at incredible, not-for-profit prices. The gallery’s incredible, highly investable paintings and drawings include emerging figurative artists, with prices starting from as little as £300. Works in the gallery’s latest exhibition (NEAC Annual Exhibition) are available to buy online until Sunday, 31st August 2025.
“Our regular exhibitions offer one of the purest ways to experience the best figurative, painterly work in the UK. We are not showing the paintings that art dealers think will pay their gallery’s rent. We are in a unique position to provide a forum for figurative artists to show their very best, most authentic pieces, and to allow people to buy them at affordable prices. We also provide the stepping-off point for new, young artists, which means our exhibitions are full of emerging talent, set to be the figurative stars of the future.” – Addi Aegisdottir.
Addi Aegisdottir’s Top Tips
Look for the new ‘Old Masters’
Old Master’s techniques are making a comeback. Emerging artists using this style and approach can combine a contemporary interpretation with a timeless artistic style. Drawings can sometimes work better than paintings in this genre, and are often more affordable.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Two Lidias by Rae Carter Birch.
“Rae won the NEAC Scholarship 2023/2024 and is a really exciting emerging artist. She references movement a lot, and this speaks to me personally as someone who loves dance. This piece is powerful as it is a contemporary piece, but could equally be by an ‘Old Master.’ It is celebrating the human body, and I like the fact that it is on paper. I would choose this as a piece of contemporary art for my home.”
Cityscapes – Look at the mood, not just the place
When choosing a cityscape, look for those that capture mood, not just place. Colour and light are important to evoke emotions.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Duck Lane, Soho by Francesco Conti, £1,250.
“This is another artist who is being recognised by leading figurative art societies and exhibitions. I love the urban loneliness of this piece – I find it quite beautiful, and even though it is of Soho in London, you could also see a similar scene in New York or Berlin. The use of colour and light is exceptional; the strong yellow has been hard to pull off, but is extremely effective.”
Still lifes are trending
Still lifes are making a comeback. Remember that what is painted is sometimes less important than the colour palette used and the composition of the piece.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Studio Window at Night by Jason Line NEAC, £1,600.
“This piece achieves a beautiful use of space. Many of his paintings are quite monochrome, but the focus here is the translucent quality of glass. The set-up is staged but somehow feels natural. The depiction of the bottles and the window behind takes serious descriptive skill.”
Look for you
Symbolic figurative work invites repeated interpretation. Look for pieces that connect to your own story or identity, but also those that offer intrigue and unanswered questions.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Make Your Choice by Svetlana Kornilova.
“This features strong female portraits. I love how it shows interconnected female relationships. The little girl in the painting resonates with my identity as a mother. The objects she’s playing with are also interesting — you’re left guessing what they mean and what choice she is being asked to make.”
Be Transported
Landscapes with strong use of light and a painterly atmosphere can open up a room and transport the viewer daily.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Saint-Julien, Languedoc by Patrick Cullen PNEAC, £2,350.
“A highly saleable piece capturing the warmth and light of Le Midi. A sweeping view that takes you on a bird’s flight over the village to the dramatic mountains beyond. As the work is by Patrick Cullen – President of the NEAC – this painting carries the added weight of historical and institutional significance.”
Patrick Cullen’s Top Tips
Mystery Matters
Seek out work that leaves questions unanswered — they will help keep a painting alive in your space. They can also become conversation starters.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: The Path in Search of a Queen by Christie Allman, £1,950.
“A wonderfully subtle and mysterious piece. Highly evocative featuring unique and distinctive mark-making. Where does the path lead? Why a Queen? Magic.”
Look for a Fresh Approach
Look for artists that tackle well-trodden styles and genres differently for work that is fresh and original.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Lit by Laura Smith NEAC, £4,300.
“A beautiful, impactful still life. The turquoise colour and drapery adds a soft romantic feel. The objects—the pomegranate and the bell—give you something to think about.”
Floral Work doesn’t have to be Quaint
Look for interesting ways artists describe flowers. True skill lies in understanding the very essence of a flower, and then communicating this in the simplest of brush strokes.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: First Daffodils, Cornwall by Paul Curtis NEAC, £2,650.
“Soft light, gorgeous colours. Curtis captures the delicacy of flowers within strongly structured compositions. Will add a contemporary, peaceful twist to living spaces.”
The Everyday Made Extraordinary
Great figurative artists can transform the everyday into something extraordinary. Through careful observation, colour, and expressive brushwork, even a simple stand of trees becomes quietly luminous and emotionally resonant.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Trees Les Menuires by Ben Hope NEAC PS ROI RP RSMA, £1,800.
“Hope’s ability to capture a particular quality of light through trees that cast shadows on the snow is both seductive and masterful.”
A Moment in Time
Narrative figurative pieces draw viewers in. Choose works that feel like a moment from a larger story.
Example piece available to buy from the NEAC work: Conversation by Johanna Zhang NEAC, £1,800.
“Zhang’s figure compositions are full of character and narrative. What is the conversation the two women in the foreground are engaged in? Engaging is the word!”
All sales support the artists directly, and buyers can access exceptional value and own a piece of contemporary figurative art. All of the above pieces are available to purchase at https://buyart.mallgalleries.org.uk/.
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