Investing in the World of Art
Why Invest in Art?
Investing in art is a practice that is centuries old, traditionally only accessible for the most wealthy of individuals to satisfy their tastes and bring some beauty to their stately homes.
Over the year’s art investment has grown in popularity with Galleries and Fairs offering a spectrum of art pieces and collectables to the wider market, the options for accumulating art as an investment are growing. Fine Art is an attractive investment proposition though it is important to understand both some key considerations and what investing in art entails.

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Firstly investors need to define their niche and determine the forms of art they are interested in. From oil to acrylic paintings, sculptures and photography, each medium appeals to a different audience and from an investment perspective will subsequently be subject to the nuances of that specific segment of the market. Understanding this will influence the type of artwork an investor will own.
Art is a very tangible and visible medium; it provides a sensory experience that few assets can parallel, evoking discussion and a feeling of satisfaction as well as the proven potential for significant growth in underlying value.
Here at Altvest Capital Partners, we have over 30 years collective experience in managing investment portfolios to deliver exceptional returns for our clients, we have formed close working relationships with both promising artists and renowned galleries to offer an array of artwork to appeal to every investor’s “palette”. Let us help you take the first step in understanding the world of art and the benefits of adding this unique asset class can bring to your investment portfolio. We offer a fully managed solution to suit investors of all kinds access the growth, enjoyment and excitement which Art offers. Whether you are looking to enter the market as an individual investor from as little as a few thousand pounds, looking to build a robust Art portfolio or are an institutional investor looking to diversify their portfolios, Altvest can assist, guide and advise you.
With bases in both the UK and Singapore we work with clients across the globe, so rest assured whether you’re based in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, Cape Town or Amsterdam, Altvest can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gold is seen as the ultimate store of value, yet in the same 10 year period (end of 2010-2020) gold offered an absolute return of just 73%, whereas other alternatives offered far greater returns over the same period, with similarly low volatility. Some examples of this are Scotch Whisky at 478%, Classic & Supercars +193% and Fine Wine +127%.
Casks are fully insured against damage or theft of an individual cask, or something happening to the storage facility itself, this is revalued annually and mitigates the risk of something happening to your investment. As casks mature, they sit in a specialist warehouse and may never leave the facility where they lay, meaning that the risk of something happening to a cask is minimal, though these risks are protected against. Another risk would be a severe downturn in the consumption of Whisky, though the consumption and export figures suggest that this is highly unlikely.
The spirit within the cask must be bottled and consumed at some point thus the cask will always have an inherent intrinsic value based on the spirit it holds and the number of bottles which it will produce. The key risk to consider and one which we come across often is the price you are paying for the cask. Due to the large volume of casks which we transact coupled with the expert partners we work with, here at Altvest we offer market beating prices by purchasing at wholesale (with discount in many cases) ensuring that our clients receive the best possible value for their investments. Our casks are regularly price checked against others on the market and consistently come out on top.
Yes. Our close relationships with certain artists offer the opportunity to have specific works commissioned. Whether you’re looking for a family portrait in a unique style, or would like a work with a certain aesthetic of your choice, it is possible to have this created specifically for you. Get in touch with our team to find out more and discuss further.
The Fintech revolution continues to encroach and envelope the asset spectrum. As this phenomenon evolves even the rarest and historically inaccessible assets will become widely available to the masses via tokenisation and other forms of fractional ownership. As with all finite assets, this revolution will push the price of real assets ever higher.
Few people are aware of the opportunities within the real asset spectrum even fewer have the knowledge or expertise to enter this highly secure and lucrative market. The recent record economic stimulus compounded by mounting fears of inflation means there has never been a better time to enter the realm of real or tangible assets.
Casks are fully insured against damage or theft of an individual cask, or something happening to the storage facility itself, this is revalued annually and mitigates the risk of something happening to your investment. As casks mature, they sit in a specialist warehouse and may never leave the facility where they lay, meaning that the risk of something happening to a cask is minimal, though these risks are protected against. Another risk would be a severe downturn in the consumption of Whisky, though the consumption and export figures suggest that this is highly unlikely.
The spirit within the cask must be bottled and consumed at some point thus the cask will always have an inherent intrinsic value based on the spirit it holds and the number of bottles which it will produce. The key risk to consider and one which we come across often is the price you are paying for the cask. Due to the large volume of casks which we transact coupled with the expert partners we work with, here at Altvest we offer market beating prices by purchasing at wholesale (with discount in many cases) ensuring that our clients receive the best possible value for their investments. Our casks are regularly price checked against others on the market and consistently come out on top.
Under Scotch Whisky regulation, Scotch must mature for a period of years in Scotland, in fact, the spirit is not officially Scotch Whisky until it has matured for a period of 3 years. The Whisky market is a key commercial market, driven by supply and demand. The age-old dilemma for the industry is that you can’t have a 12 year old Single Malt without allowing it to mature in a warehouse for 12 years, meaning that the supply is based on demand 12 years ago and distilleries can’t simply create aged spirit today which they can sell tomorrow: Time is key.
Thus, investment into production by distilleries does not affect already ageing stock and we see the supply and demand gap remaining for years to come, despite investment. With 90% of all Scotch Whisky being bottled or blended by the time it reaches 12 years old, demand for well-aged spirit further outstrips supply, offering a unique opportunity to investors. Growth markets such as India, Africa, South America and Asia have seen double digit growth in exports, showing that the market is buoyant.
Under Scotch Whisky regulation, Scotch must mature for a period of years in Scotland, in fact, the spirit is not officially Scotch Whisky until it has matured for a period of 3 years. The Whisky market is a key commercial market, driven by supply and demand. The age-old dilemma for the industry is that you can’t have a 12 year old Single Malt without allowing it to mature in a warehouse for 12 years, meaning that the supply is based on demand 12 years ago and distilleries can’t simply create aged spirit today which they can sell tomorrow: Time is key.
Thus, investment into production by distilleries does not affect already ageing stock and we see the supply and demand gap remaining for years to come, despite investment. With 90% of all Scotch Whisky being bottled or blended by the time it reaches 12 years old, demand for well-aged spirit further outstrips supply, offering a unique opportunity to investors. Growth markets such as India, Africa, South America and Asia have seen double digit growth in exports, showing that the market is buoyant.
COVID-19 disrupted the consumption and the supply of Scotch Whisky though the reduction in out of home consumption was largely counteracted by an increase of in home consumption and overall consumption figures are widely expected to outstrip pre-pandemic levels as lockdowns around the world ease further and economies open up again. Similarly, Brexit had an impact on exports to the EU, though the USA is by far the largest importer of Scotch Whisky and with the relaxing of US tariffs on Scotch Whisky imports largely coinciding with the timing of Brexit it added a welcome boost to US bound exports and softened the impact of Brexit. We have also seen unprecedented growth in exports to countries such as China, Taiwan, India, Mexico and even Latvia.
As of August 2021, overall export figures were up 30.59% on 2020’s figures and just 10% off 2019’s all time high. Overall, consensus is that we will be seeing new all-time highs in the near future as post Brexit/pandemic support for the industry kicks in coupled with the profile of Whisky drinkers Worldwide expanding, with younger Millennials now considered a key consumer market. We see this as a time for investors to be excited by the prospects within the Whisky market, rather than concerned.
COVID-19 disrupted the consumption and the supply of Scotch Whisky though the reduction in out of home consumption was largely counteracted by an increase of in home consumption and overall consumption figures are widely expected to outstrip pre-pandemic levels as lockdowns around the world ease further and economies open up again. Similarly, Brexit had an impact on exports to the EU, though the USA is by far the largest importer of Scotch Whisky and with the relaxing of US tariffs on Scotch Whisky imports largely coinciding with the timing of Brexit it added a welcome boost to US bound exports and softened the impact of Brexit. We have also seen unprecedented growth in exports to countries such as China, Taiwan, India, Mexico and even Latvia.
As of August 2021, overall export figures were up 30.59% on 2020’s figures and just 10% off 2019’s all time high. Overall, consensus is that we will be seeing new all-time highs in the near future as post Brexit/pandemic support for the industry kicks in coupled with the profile of Whisky drinkers Worldwide expanding, with younger Millennials now considered a key consumer market. We see this as a time for investors to be excited by the prospects within the Whisky market, rather than concerned.
All purchase costs are included within the purchase price and other than the ongoing storage and insurance, there are no other ongoing costs. As casks are held in duty suspension (bond), there are no other taxes to consider until selling the casks, unless you wished to remove them from their bonded storage, to take physical ownership or bottle.
All purchase costs are included within the purchase price and other than the ongoing storage and insurance, there are no other ongoing costs. As casks are held in duty suspension (bond), there are no other taxes to consider until selling the casks, unless you wished to remove them from their bonded storage, to take physical ownership or bottle.
When you are looking to sell your casks, in most cases we recommend that you sell the casks whilst still in bond, therefore you don’t need to rely on selling via auction or to bottle to realise your investment. Of course, should you wish to then you can. The Whisky market is a commercial market, therefore provided that casks are priced correctly, the market is often “willing buyer, willing seller” with multiple points of sale available.
When you are looking to sell your casks, in most cases we recommend that you sell the casks whilst still in bond, therefore you don’t need to rely on selling via auction or to bottle to realise your investment. Of course, should you wish to then you can. The Whisky market is a commercial market, therefore provided that casks are priced correctly, the market is often “willing buyer, willing seller” with multiple points of sale available.
Our team will find a purchaser and negotiate the best price for you. We have an extensive network covering both institutional and private investors, distillers, private bottlers and collectors. Provided that you are happy with the price offered we will complete the sale and all paperwork. This process takes a maximum of around 1 month to complete though is often much less. To sell the casks, we simply charge 5% of the profit made. What’s better, this is not charged if you have a buyer who you are selling to directly, or if you are reinvesting the proceeds into new casks with ourselves. This fee is significantly reduced on industry standards which range from 5-15% of total transaction value, ensuring our clients receive the best possible value from their Whisky cask investment.
Our team will find a purchaser and negotiate the best price for you. We have an extensive network covering both institutional and private investors, distillers, private bottlers and collectors. Provided that you are happy with the price offered we will complete the sale and all paperwork. This process takes a maximum of around 1 month to complete though is often much less. To sell the casks, we simply charge 5% of the profit made. What’s better, this is not charged if you have a buyer who you are selling to directly, or if you are reinvesting the proceeds into new casks with ourselves. This fee is significantly reduced on industry standards which range from 5-15% of total transaction value, ensuring our clients receive the best possible value from their Whisky cask investment.
As mentioned in other questions, Scotch Whisky is a commercial market, with casks being held in Scotland and transacted by corporate entities in Pounds Sterling. Therefore, we would recommend being wary if you have been quoted in a currency other than GBP (unless it is simply used to illustrate the cost in local currency rather than transacting in another currency) as the cask must have been originally purchased, and will be sold, in Sterling. We have seen casks priced in other currencies regularly, though generally these prices have been highly inflated on market value, therefore we always urge our clients to conduct proper due diligence. If you would like our opinion on cask prices or would like to discuss our available casks as a comparison then please get in touch with one of our team.
As mentioned in other questions, Scotch Whisky is a commercial market, with casks being held in Scotland and transacted by corporate entities in Pounds Sterling. Therefore, we would recommend being wary if you have been quoted in a currency other than GBP (unless it is simply used to illustrate the cost in local currency rather than transacting in another currency) as the cask must have been originally purchased, and will be sold, in Sterling. We have seen casks priced in other currencies regularly, though generally these prices have been highly inflated on market value, therefore we always urge our clients to conduct proper due diligence. If you would like our opinion on cask prices or would like to discuss our available casks as a comparison then please get in touch with one of our team.
Casks can be sold at any time, though the spirit does need to mature to increase in value and offer growth to investors. As a guide we recommend a hold period in the region of 3-5 years as a base, though in certain circumstances this can be reduced. Of course, the longer that a cask matures, the higher the value will increase, so for longer hold periods growth is often inflated further.
Casks can be sold at any time, though the spirit does need to mature to increase in value and offer growth to investors. As a guide we recommend a hold period in the region of 3-5 years as a base, though in certain circumstances this can be reduced. Of course, the longer that a cask matures, the higher the value will increase, so for longer hold periods growth is often inflated further.
Available Works
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WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
“Like the majority of people in the world, luxury asset investment has never been top of my agenda due to knowledge and affordability. I met Chris and Byron of Altvest during virtual business training sessions in lockdown. At a follow up meeting we very quickly recognised our joint interest in the whisky industry. I made enquiries about their cask investment portfolio and decided to buy from them if I could afford to do it. I am pleased to say I have made my first ever investment in a cask of whisky and I can add that the knowledge, integrity and enthusiasm of the guys made this purchase an absolute pleasure. I have no hesitation in recommending their services to anyone."
— RAY BLACK | UNITED KINGDOM
