Hill Dickinson has advised arts materials supplier Teaching Art Limited on its acquisition of ArtGallery (UK) Ltd.

This is Teaching Art’s first acquisition following a £4m investment from PHD Equity Partners and Praetura Commercial Finance which Hill Dickinson’s corporate and banking teams also advised on earlier this year.

ArtGallery (UK) is an online gallery operator based in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. The company allows artists to sell their work to buyers worldwide via its website artgallery.co.uk. Teaching Art plans to integrate the gallery business into its existing operation of supplying arts and crafts products to consumers and to enhance the services it offers to members of its art club, the SAA. Established in 2005, the business is run by husband and wife team Aileen and Mike Mitchell who are planning to retire from the business.

Andy Dodd and Craig Richardson of PHD Equity Partners, who led the recent investment into the company, worked with management on the acquisition of ArtGallery (UK). Andy Dodd said: “This acquisition is the first step in Teaching Art’s growth plans, and follows on very quickly from our recent investment. We see huge potential for the company to expand the services of the SAA, develop new products and services and grow its sales in Europe and beyond. We look forward to working with the management during this exciting phase of expansion.”

Hill Dickinson corporate partner Ian Riggs and associate Sean Lightfoot provided legal advice to Teaching Art and PHD Equity Partners.

Ian Riggs commented: “We are pleased to have acted for Teaching Art on this transaction, having previously advised PHD on its investment into the company back in June.  The deal will allow Teaching Art to enhance its existing offering to club members and embark on its plans for growth. We wish both parties well on the start of an exciting new chapter for Teaching Art.”