Art is made, says Andrew, by, “adding the poetry to it, or what you might you call art.”

He explores the use of distance in painting atmospheric landscapes while playing with the concept of light throughout a day. While he usually prefers painting atypical landscapes, in unfamiliar places, he chose to paint this rather familiar view of the Bosphorus, adding to it many elements of light and color.

Interior designer Tara Bernerd stops in her tracks, walks back a couple of paces and turns to face a piece of art by Fabienne Arietti. When talking to Herroux about this piece of work, Bernerd asks if this artist was influenced by Hodgkins – for he, like her, made the unusual decision of making the frame part of the picture itself.

‘Yes, she does the framing herself and she is very good at that. It’s inclusive of the painting,’ explains Herroux to Bernerd. Bernerd is clearly taken with her style, ‘There is so much there to stand out in a fair like this and I think that says a lot about an artist.’

Hannah Berry

‘I think what is unquestionable about these fairs is that they are overwhelming and if you are overwhelmed it doesn’t mean anything more than you are normal, especially if you don’t know yet what your tastes are.’

From modern to Miro, Bernerd understands how easy it can be to feel at a loss when it’s comes to choosing what to buy from a mishmash of works from a whole spectrum of artists. Her advice? ‘I’d pace myself. I’d go and relax and look through all my books and my brochures and have a good think about it’.

Hannah Berry

‘He had his first show in London this month but he had already had three shows in Madrid which sold out and he only completed the equivalent of his MA last year. So really he was probably more famous than his tutors.’

Jason is referring to Italian painter Michele de Campo. Inspired by the youth generation, his vibrant colours and large canvases left Bernerd in awe. ‘I walked past it and I had to look back’. And from the success of his shows it would seem that she is not alone.

Hannah Berry

When Tara Bernerd turns away from Michele de Campo’s Three Girls with Graffti at the stand for Mark Jason’s gallery at Art London, she cannot quite pull herself away. A collection of work in the far corner draws her closer. ‘I am immediately reminded of Gary Hume but you are going to tell me it’s not him aren’t you?’ Jason strokes his chin and looks at Ed Hodgkinson’s pieces which are the work in question. ‘You can’t get away from the fact that he has used similar materials – his work is based on the simple line but I think there is certainly originality with both artists.’

The work instantly sets Bernerd’s creative juices flowing and within seconds you can see she is already conjuring up an image in her mind of the perfect setting for Hodgkinson’s pieces. ‘On a modern and contemporary feel for a home and also for something that maybe isn’t too challenging, there is just something so elegant yet has something rather romantic about it at the same time.’

His one line images taken from life sketches and encased in a canvas of enamel are timely summed up by Bernerd in one word, ’striking’.

Hannah Berry

‘I think a home should represent you and you can buy bits and pieces that might be of the moment but if you make your home all about a trend then it goes against what a home should be.’

These opinions also transfer to the art world. Though there may be artists, like Damien Hirst, who enter the public domain over time, Bernerd believes that if we only buy what is fashionable then it will not stand the test of time.

‘I think when buying art, knowledge is key. Do your homework.’

Hannah Berry

‘I can’t bear the thought of having to make things match. I think it goes completely against why you should be buying art or why someone should be designing a home.’ However, this does not mean you should go wild without reins. ‘There are some basic obvious rules; make sure it fits and as with an outfit so with your home, you do not need your art to match the style.’

Hannah Berry

‘I was out recently and was talking about, as I am sure many people have, what Damien Hirst achieved and I take my hat off to him. However, you could ask yourself the question what would have he achieved had Lehman Brothers not crashed the day before? Maybe he would have made twice as much money’, wonders top interior designer Tara Bernerd.

Richard Ward-Jackson, founder and director of Art London, has his own take on the state of the market. ‘There are two things that are happening; one is that people are quite despondent and they want to be cheered up, and the second thing is that people are not sure where to put their money and I think they feel that art is as good a place as any.’

The general opinion seems to be pretty steady across the board and is reiterated by illustratror Athier Mousawi and collector Julian Hartnoll. ‘There is a trend at the moment to get out of money and get into objects and not necessarily houses anymore but to get into art.’

Hannah Berry

Concentrating on satirical paintings by James Holdsworth, and Kenny Sharf (currently showing at the Waddington gallery in Cork Street), Tara discusses how best to hang art in your home. It all depends on the particular room and the piece itself. A spot light to really highlight your new painting or sculpture is infinitely preferable.

The event attracted celebrity personalities, musicians and, of course, the artists and collectors themselves. According to Ralph Ward-Jackson, director of Art London, ‘We get 15,000 visitors a year, give or take. I’m guessing that in a typical year maybe ten per cent of those buy.’

And when it comes to buying it seems that the message is to buy what you love, ‘You have to use your eye and not your ears,’ says collector Julian Hartnoll. ‘I have not ever bought something because other people were impressed by it or because it was a sensation of it’s time. Just know yourself and be as true to yourself as possible,’ smiles Tara Bernerd, interior designer and one of the founders of Target Living.

Though art, and galleries in particular, may seem intimidating Art London does a lot to dispel this fear and do away with the stereotypical stuffy view of the industry. Though as Kim Cohen of Mydeco rightly points out, ‘The really important thing to remember is that they’re there to sell art so they may look intimidating and scary, but at the end of the day they want to makes the sales.’

Hannah Berry