Artwork
Courier Service
Art is not standard freight. A painting carries stretched canvas over a wooden frame with surfaces sensitive to humidity, pressure, and temperature shifts. A sculpture balances weight asymmetrically across fragile extensions. Even a mirror becomes a liability without corner protection and controlled handling. Standard parcel services treat these items the same as boxed parcels, with predictable results.
Our artwork delivery service addresses these risks through trained two-person teams, purpose-selected wrapping materials, and a Room-to-Room approach. Pieces reach their destination positioned in the room you specify — not left at a door for you to manage alone. Collection happens from galleries, studios, auction houses, and private addresses across Great Britain.
Artwork We Handle
Art comes in formats with entirely different transport requirements. Our artwork courier service covers four main categories, each handled according to its physical properties.
Framed paintings present a combination of risks: glass breakage, frame corner damage, and canvas flex from improper support. Glazed works need rigid backing to prevent glass contact with the painted surface. Unframed oil and acrylic paintings require soft face protection separating the surface from any wrapping layer. Oversized canvases add weight and awkward dimensions during doorway navigation.
Three-dimensional works often include narrow protrusions — outstretched limbs, thin pedestals, fragile surface textures in ceramic, plaster, or cast resin. These extensions absorb impact disproportionately. Heavier bronze or stone pieces demand correct lifting positions and paired handling throughout the carry. Placement at the destination requires clear floor preparation and stable surface confirmation before the item is set down.
Large mirrors combine significant weight with glass vulnerability. Standard mirror sizes in antique frames reach substantial dimensions and shift the centre of gravity unpredictably during movement. Ornate frames include raised decoration prone to chipping from contact with hard materials. Corner protection covers frame edges throughout transport and loading.
Rolled or stretched canvases without frames need soft internal support and external rigid protection. Rolled works travel in protective tubes. Stretched unframed canvases need careful edge handling and full-face coverage preventing scratches from strapping contact.
Our Handling Process
- STEP 01Request a Quote
Submit your collection and delivery postcodes through our online form. Include artwork dimensions, weight where known, and any access details such as stairs or narrow corridors. These factors affect the equipment selection and accurate artwork delivery service pricing. You receive a detailed cost estimate before confirming.
- STEP 02Schedule Collection
Once the quote is confirmed, we arrange collection timing within a three-hour bracket. For gallery and studio pickups, scheduling aligns with opening hours and appointment availability. Auction house collections coordinate with lot release timings. Private address collections suit morning, afternoon, or evening slots depending on availability.
- STEP 03Transport and Placement
The team arrives with protective materials sized for your piece. Wrapping happens on-site before loading. At the destination, the piece reaches the designated room — a display wall, storage space, or installation area — rather than stopping at the building entrance.
Why Choose Our Art Courier Service
Selecting a courier service for artwork comes down to whether the team treats your piece as freight or as something that cannot be replaced. Our service is built around the latter assumption.
Every collection and delivery uses two operators working in coordination. One person does not carry a framed painting down a staircase alone. Two people distribute weight, communicate movement, and keep pieces level through doorways and turns. This applies to lightweight canvases and heavy bronze works equally — awkward dimensions create risk regardless of weight.
Soft blankets prevent surface abrasion on painted faces and polished finishes. Foam corner guards absorb impact at the most vulnerable structural points on frames. Rigid backing boards stop canvas flex during vehicle movement. All securing straps avoid direct contact with finished surfaces. Materials are selected based on the specific piece, not applied uniformly to everything.
Pickups happen at commercial premises as standard. We work around gallery opening schedules, exhibition takedown timings, and studio appointment availability. Auction house lots with specific release windows can be collected within confirmed time brackets. Multiple pickup locations on the same route can be combined into a single journey where logistics allow.
Booking includes a three-hour arrival window confirmed the day before. Morning slots work for trade clients with installation timelines. Evening availability suits private collectors with daytime commitments. Weekend bookings are accepted subject to route capacity.
The job does not end at your front door. Artwork reaches the specific room, wall, or storage area you identify during booking. The team removes all wrapping on-site and takes it away. You do not move the piece again after we leave.
Your quote includes the two-person team, all protective materials, and room placement. Distance, artwork dimensions, and access conditions determine the figure. What you see before booking is what you pay on completion.
Frequently asked questions
Can you transport unframed canvases?
Unframed stretched canvases travel with face protection separating the painted surface from wrapping materials. Rolled canvases use rigid tubes with soft internal lining. Both formats receive handling suited to canvas sensitivity, including careful edge support throughout the carry.
Do you handle sculptures and 3D artwork?
Sculptures move within our standard service parameters. Weight and fragility determine the equipment used and the handling approach taken. Heavier bronze or stone pieces receive the same paired-operator method as cast iron items. Ceramic, plaster, or resin works with fragile extensions need specific protective wrapping at vulnerable points identified during the pre-collection assessment.
What about valuable or antique pieces?
Antique frames, vintage canvases, and collector items receive the same protective standards as contemporary work. For high-value pieces, we recommend discussing access conditions and dimensions in advance so the team arrives with materials matched to the item. Accurate descriptions during the quote stage improve preparation.
Can you collect from galleries and exhibitions?
Gallery and exhibition collection forms part of our standard artwork courier service.
Do you transport mirrors and glass art?
Mirrors and glass-panel artworks travel with corner guards protecting frame edges and rigid separation preventing glass contact with other surfaces. Large antique mirrors with ornate frames receive individual wrapping at raised decorative points. Glass dimensions and weight factor into the quote at the initial enquiry stage.
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