Framing Services For Artists

Harten has been framing for artists for over 50 years. We are craftspeople working with craftspeople -- framing is our practice, and we understand yours. Whether you are preparing a single commission for a collector, hanging a full exhibition, or building a consistent presentation across an entire body of work, we approach every project as a creative collaboration. Professional art framing is not just about protection and presentation -- it is about understanding the relationship between the frame and the work, and making decisions together that serve both.

Framing Your Body of Work

Consistency matters when presenting a series, an edition, or a body of work that spans years of practice. We match profiles, finishes, and glazing across multiple pieces so that the framing reads as a coherent whole -- whether for a solo exhibition, an open studio event, or a portfolio presentation. If you are building a body of work over time, we keep detailed records of every frame we produce for you. When you return with new work in the same series, we can match the original framing exactly. From a single commission to a full exhibition run, the framing holds together because the attention to detail holds together.

Gallery-Ready Presentation

Framing choices affect how work is perceived -- the wrong profile or finish can compete with the art rather than support it. We work with you on presentation decisions, not as sales consultants but as fellow makers who understand what you are trying to achieve. Whether you need float mounting for works on paper, a shadow gap for canvas, or a minimal tray frame that disappears behind the image, we will talk through options and help you land on the right approach. For full details on our capabilities, see our page on bespoke framing to your specification. Every frame is built around your work -- not around a catalogue of standard options.

Working With Unusual Substrates and Media

Canvas, board, paper, mixed media, textiles, found objects, sculptural elements -- if you make it, we can frame it. We have extensive experience working with unusual substrates and non-standard media. Stretched canvases can be fitted into tray frames or floated with a visible stretcher bar edge. Works on board or panel can be shadow-mounted or flush-set. Three-dimensional and mixed-media work is where box framing comes into its own. See our canvas framing for your studio work and our box frames for sculptural and mixed-media work for construction details.

Conservation and Protection

Every frame we build uses conservation-grade materials as standard. Acid-free mounting boards, pH-neutral adhesives, and UV-protective glazing options protect your work for the long term -- whether it is destined for a permanent collection, a touring exhibition, or sale to a collector. We understand that the hours you invest in a piece have a value that goes beyond price. Conservation framing protects that investment of creative effort. The level of protection can be scaled to context: museum-grade for works entering institutional collections, practical conservation for exhibition pieces that will travel, and cost-effective protection for studio stock and editions.

Anti-Reflective and UV Glazing

Glazing should serve the work, not compete with it. Standard glass has a green hue and heavy reflections that can obscure the image entirely under gallery lighting. We offer anti-reflective museum glass that virtually eliminates reflections and provides excellent UV protection -- ideal for exhibition contexts and collectors who want to see the work without distraction. For large pieces and works that will travel, acrylic glazing removes breakage risk entirely and reduces weight significantly. We help you choose the right glazing for the context: museum glass for gallery display, UV-filtering acrylic for transport and touring, and standard options where budget is the priority.

Oversized Works

Artists working at scale need a framer who can match that ambition. We build frames up to 4.5 metres, engineered for the structural demands of large canvases, installations, and oversized works on paper. Every oversized frame is reinforced with appropriate internal bracing and fitted with hanging systems rated for the weight. If you work large, you already know how few framers can handle this scale reliably. See our oversized framing for large works page for maximum dimensions and construction methods.

Edition and Commission Framing

Editions demand consistency. Whether you are framing an open edition of 50 prints, a limited edition of 10, or a set of artist proofs, every frame must be identical in profile, finish, and presentation. We maintain detailed production records so that each frame in the run matches the first. For commissions, we work to your specification or your client's -- balancing presentation requirements with your creative intent. If a gallery or collector has specific framing expectations, we collaborate with you to meet them without compromising the integrity of the work.

Welded Metal Frames

For artists whose work calls for a contemporary, industrial, or minimal frame, we fabricate welded frames in aluminium, steel, and brass. These are not off-the-shelf extrusions -- each frame is welded, ground, and finished by hand in our workshop. Aluminium tray frames for canvas, steel shadow boxes for three-dimensional work, brass frames for a warmer metallic finish. Welded frames offer a clean, seamless corner joint that cannot be achieved with mitred timber. See our welded aluminium and steel frames page for profile options and finishes.

Refit, Repair and Image Swapping

Working artists know that a frame is a tool, not a one-time purchase. You might break back into a frame to add finishing touches after it has been glazed. A gallery might return a frame with transit damage. You might create a new piece and want to reuse an existing frame rather than commission a new one. We handle all of this. Refitting artwork after studio modifications, repairing scuffs and dents from exhibition use, and swapping new work into existing frames for gallery rotation are all part of the service. Reusing frames you already own is a practical and budget-conscious approach -- it lets you present new work without starting from scratch every time.

Guaranteed Delivery and Insurance

Exhibition dates do not move. Commission deadlines are fixed. When you need a frame by a specific date, we guarantee it. Our production scheduling is managed through capacity planning software that tracks every order against actual workshop capacity -- so the date we agree is the date your frame is ready. While your work is in our workshop, it is fully insured under our specialist art insurance policy. Our premises has oversized security doors, monitored alarms with police response, heat detectors, and 24-hour camera coverage. For repeat orders, our tracking system means you can request a frame matching a previous job by reference number -- saving time and ensuring consistency across your practice.

Direct Consultation With Lead Framer

When you have a technical question about framing an unusual piece, you talk directly to Simon -- our lead framer. Not a sales team, not a customer service desk. Simon can discuss construction methods, finishing options, glazing properties, and presentation approaches for challenging or unconventional work. Many artists consult with Simon early in the process, before the work is even complete, to explore framing options that will complement what they are making. This collaborative approach is central to how we work -- framing decisions made with the maker, not for them.

Ready to discuss your next body of work? Send images of your latest pieces, talk to our lead framer about a challenging project, or get a quote for an upcoming exhibition. We are here as fellow craftspeople -- and we would like to see what you are making.