Art books bringing publicly owned artworks to life
Explore the hidden treasures of publicly owned oil paintings from across the UK with our selection of art books for sale on the Art UK Shop. There are thousands of oil paintings held in museums, libraries and public buildings in the United Kingdom, most not on view to the public. We have a book for all regions and major cities in the UK. Sit back and lose yourself in our glossy, full-colour books showcasing the nation’s hidden art.
Cataloguing the nation’s art
Art UK (Public Catalogue Foundation) is a charity with the goal of photographing and digitising art for the enjoyment of all. An army of staff worked tirelessly to visit over 3,250 venues to photograph and record over 200,000 artworks. A large proportion of the artworks catalogued are not readily accessible by the public and not photographed before 2003.
Art UK is now an invaluable resource for art education, research, or the pure enjoyment of beautiful artworks.
An extensive art book collection of research
The Art UK Shop is pleased to offer a selection of full-colour hardback art catalogues that draw on our extensive research efforts. We have over 80 titles available that cover art collections across the main regions and cities of the United Kingdom. Each large-format book is packed with exclusive photos of oil paintings in public ownership along with details of the artist and host collection.
Books to support art education and research
One of the primary goals of Art UK is to promote art education and research. Our art books make invaluable research tools for art students, academics and the general public in schools, universities and local lending libraries. These beautifully bound books are hardy and resistant to ensure you will receive many years of use out of this worthwhile investment.
Schools and local libraries may choose to focus on titles covering their home and neighbouring counties. Students will be inspired by their studies and find information on collections that they will be available to visit in the local area – a great way to experience local art.
Universities may prefer to add the entire collection to their library stock to give art students full access to nationwide information for their studies.
Books to enjoy at home
Learn about the rich collections of oil paintings in public ownership across your local area with our quality art books. You can see images and read details about artworks not accessible to the public, or get ideas for visits to local collections in your spare time. Each book lists thousands of local artworks to provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Buy your favourite book today and enjoy free UK delivery.
Support Art UK with your purchase
You can support the ongoing work of Art UK to catalogue the nation’s artwork by purchasing art books from our range. We have collaborated with our partner collections to make a growing number of artworks found in our books available for you buy as art prints or wall art. A range of image licensing options is available for academic and media use. Purchases support local museums, galleries and collections to help them preserve art for current and future generations to enjoy.