Creative fund supports Birmingham arts firm

BIRMINGHAM based venture capital fund Creative Advantage Fund has agreed an investment of £150,000 in a firm supplying retail artwork.

Artbrand Publishing Ltd, based in Gas Street, Birmingham supplies high street retailers with tailored portfolios of prints, paintings and other art works and is growing rapidly.

The firm, which has an exclusive library of around 14,000 original works, works with retailers to design and supply exclusive packages of art works for sale in high street stores.

Veejay Lingiah, managing director, said: “There is a substantial demand for quality art for the home and many British and foreign artists eager to supply it. However, until now there was no expert intermediary to bridge the commercial gap between artist and retailer.

“Sourcing works from our network of artists, we develop attractive art ranges for time-poor buyers to meet the particular needs of each retailer. With CAF’s investment we can boost our sales operation to achieve swifter growth.”

The CAF was formed in 2000 by West Midlands Arts and Birmingham City Council with the aim of investing in SMEs in the creative industries.

Thomas Dillon, CAF chairman, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Artbrand’s continued growth in Birmingham. This is very much the marriage of commerce and artistic creativity that CAF exists to promote.”

Artbrand was advised by Paul Heaven, of Blue Sky Corporate Finance. The deal has seen CAF investment consultant Keith Taylor appointed as a non-executive director of the art company.

Some examples of the work by Artbrand artists, below is London 2a, by Andy Mercer, while below that is Matika, by Joshua Davis.