Beautifully lit paintings and prints that have been expertly positioned and displayed will transform any interior, says the Hon Patrick Howard, founder of Fine Art Lighting.
Owning beautiful pieces of art is not only a pleasure, it is also vital to creating a magnificent interior—provided the lighting is right. A combination of picture lights and table lamps is the most comfortable way of lighting any room from a visual point of view because both these light sources are indirect and do not cause any glare to the eye.
What is the impact of good lighting on a painting or print?
If you have ever bought a picture that doesn’t look quite as good as it did in the gallery, it’s likely to be because the lighting in the gallery was very targeted and specialised. The use of good-quality, carefully positioned picture lights will enhance paintings, prints and watercolours to their true beauty. Any picture that is lit is better than one that is not lit.
What is the secret to lighting and displaying a painting successfully?
As well as experience and the right product, it is the ability to work with interior designers and architects to ensure that the lighting is properly configured before decoration is carried out. The correct positions of any lighting points that might be required for picture lights are worked out. This is a service that Fine Art Lighting will provide, without charge, provided that our picture lights are used. We also prefer to hang the picture ourselves, as we have long experience of how to hang in the right manner.
Which are the best picture lights to use?
Without a doubt, they are ours! After almost half a century of installing picture lights everywhere from private houses to London clubs, we have used the experience we gained to develop our own lights, manufactured in Britain to the highest specification. Our lights are deliberately designed to look discreet and elegant, with swan-necked arms. The picture lights are hand-sprayed with antique gilt paint to achieve a look that is timeless and elegant, and blends in with any pieces of artwork or its frame—or, indeed, the rest of the room. We can also spray our picture lights any colour that can match the room colour if we have the precise RAL colour number.
What type of bulbs are used?
The reflector systems are engineered to take LED lamps which have been especially manufactured to our specification. They have the correct colour temperature for any paintings and carry a two-year guaranteed life. Our LEDs have a very low energy consumption— about 87% less than old picture lights—which is very important these days.
Looking after artwork
As well as working on display and lighting of artwork, we also help with framing and restoration, in addition to designing montages of picture and watercolours and hanging them, so they do not move when dusted.
For more information, visit fineartlighting.co.uk or call 07710 033433
