INFORMATION
Art Transporters’ List and Advice (VAC6)
March 2008
This information sheet includes a list of transport suppliers who operate in Scotland.
Approximately half are based in Scotland. They range from art specialists who offer a
variety of services and purpose built vehicles to those who are general transporters but
have an interest in serving the art market and some experience in doing so. The art
market includes; galleries, museums and artists.
Index
Page
Introduction
1
Other resources
1
Transport suppliers in Scotland
1
Transport suppliers outside
Scotland
6
Useful ideas
9
Additional information
10
12 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DD
T 0131 226 6051 F 0131 225 9833 www.scottisharts.org.uk Scottish charity no. sc002835
2
Length: 18m. Height: 4.2m.
Width: 2.5m. Maximum Tonnage: 32.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Storage in Scotland,
Shipping
Other Services: Expert in Wrapping,
Packing, Crating, Air Freight.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Industrial Objects,
Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Fine
Art, Decorative Art.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity:
Scotland - Daily, England and Wales Daily, Elsewhere - Monthly.
Introduction
The list is an update of original
information gathered through a survey
carried out by Bonnar Associates, of all
Scottish Museums Council members
and all Scottish Arts Council clients,
including a sample of individual artists.
The firms included have all been used
satisfactorily by the clients who named
them, and these have been included so
that you may contact them if you wish.
Some other transport firms that have
been recommended are not included on
this list at their own choice.
Other Resources
Organisations and artists have used a
creative range of other means to
transport low security well-packaged
items. These include: post buses, local
authority library vans (both particularly
useful in rural areas), Red Star, and
finding extra space on another
organisation's vehicle. By travelling with
the work the following have also been
used; taxi (a small-scale sculpture
exhibition!), and unframed work in tubes
or portfolios.
Constantine Ltd
Constantine House
North Caldeen Road
Coatbridge, ML5 4EF
T: 01236 750 055
F: 01236 750 077
E: const@globalnet.co.uk
W: www.constantinemoving.co.uk
Used by: National Museum of Scotland,
National Galleries of Scotland, Kirkcaldy
Museum and Art Gallery, Dundee
Contemporary Arts, Aberdeen Art Gallery,
Perth Museum, Modern Institute Glasgow,
and many other municipal and private
galleries.
Transport Suppliers in Scotland
Clark and Rose Ltd
Barclayhill Place
Portlethen
Aberdeen, AB12 4LH
T: 01224 782800
F: 01224 782822
E: moving@clarkandrose.co.uk
W: www.clarkandrose.co.uk
Used by: Aberdeen Art Gallery
Vehicles: Over 21 vehicles ranging from
small courier mobiles to 40’ step frame
articulated units.
Vehicle Features: Air Suspension, Climate
Control, Tail Lift, High Security Locks, Alarm
Systems, Satellite Tracking.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 4.9m. Height: 3m.
Width: 2.6m. Maximum Tonnage: 40.
Vehicles: HGV, Luton Box, Transit.
Vehicle Features: Enclosed, Air
Suspension, Tail-lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
3
Capacity to Provide Specified:
Temperature, Art Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Storage in Scotland,
Shipping, Organising Tours, Customs
Documentation.
Other Services: Hanging, Storage of
Objects, Installation, Temperature and
climate controlled storage.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Sculpture, Industrial
Objects, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Industrial
Objects, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Fine
Art, Sculpture, Industrial Objects,
Decorative Art.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes
Frequency of Activity:
Scotland – Daily, England and Wales –
Daily,
Elsewhere – Weekly.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Storage in Scotland,
Shipping, Organising Tours.
Other Services: Export Wrapping and
Packing.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Sculpture,
Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Decorative
Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Not
specified.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity:
Scotland - Daily, England and Wales Weekly,
Elsewhere - Weekly.
Martins Removal Services
198 Colinton Road
Edinburgh, EH14 1BP
T: 0131 443 4223
F: 0131 443 1056
M: 07860 813 460
E: martinsremovals@btinternet.com
W: www.martinsremovalservices.co.uk
Used by: Kirkcaldy Museum and Art
Gallery, Falkirk District Council, NMS,
Edinburgh.
John Duncan Removals
International House
Unit 15 Hailes Park
Industrial Estate
Dumbryden Drive
Edinburgh, EH14 2QR
T: 0131 654 1200/1400
F: 0131 654 1006
E: johnduncan@dbonner.co.uk
W: www.johnduncanremovals.co.uk
Used by: National Trust for Scotland,
National Galleries of Scotland, J Hawkins
Vehicles: Not specified.
Vehicle Features: Flat Bed/Lift, Enclosed,
Low Loader, Air Suspension, Climate
Control.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Maximum Tonnage: 9.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Uncrated/Loose Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Storage in Scotland.
Shipping, Organising Tours.
Other Services: Packing of China, Glass,
Picture.
Specialisms: Not specified.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Industrial
Objects, Decorative Art.
Vehicles: HGV, Luton Box.
Vehicle Features: Enclosed, Air
Suspension, Tail-lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 18m. Height: 4.2m.
Width: 2.5m. Maximum Tonnage: 32.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Paintings, Sculpture,
Crated/Uncrated, Loose Items.
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Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Fine
Art, Sculpture, Industrial Objects,
Decorative Art.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity:
Scotland - Daily, England and Wales Weekly, Elsewhere - Monthly.
Shore Porters Society
1 Baltic Place
Aberdeen, AB11 5EW.
T: 01224 569 569
F: 01224 583 080
E: removals@shoreporters.com
W: www.shoreporters.com
Used by: Aberdeen Art Gallery, MacRobert
Arts Centre, Kirkcaldy Museum & Art
Gallery, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
Museums.
React Transport Services
24 West Shore Road
Edinburgh, EH5 1QD
T: 0131 551 5531
F: 0131 551 5528
E: simonplatts@react-transport.co.uk
W: www. react-transport.co.uk
Used by: Matthew Architecture Gallery.
Vehicles: HGV, 3 Ton Truck, Luton Box,
Transit, Hi Ab Crane.
Vehicle Features: Flat Bed and Lift,
Enclosed, Air Suspension, Tail Lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 15m. Height: 4m.
Width: 8.5m. Maximum Tonnage: 28.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Shipping, Organising
Tours.
Other Services: Not specified.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Sculpture, Industrial
Objects, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Industrial
Objects, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Fine
Art, Sculpture, Industrial Objects,
Decorative Art.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity: Scotland - Daily,
England and Wales - Daily, Elsewhere Weekly.
Vehicles: Transit, 7.5 Ton Box, 18 Ton Box
Vehicle Features: Box Vehicle, Curtain
Sider and Tail Lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 9m. Height: 2.3m.
Width: 2.6m. Maximum Tonnage: 10.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Storage in Scotland.
Other Services: Not specified.
Specialisms: Sculpture, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Sculpture, Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making:
Sculpture, Decorative Art.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity:
Scotland - Daily,
England and Wales - Daily,
Elsewhere - Less than Monthly.
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Delivery Services
16 Genoa Street
Belfast, BT12 5BG
T: 02890 315080
F: 02890 310330
E: sales@delivery-services.com
W: www.delivery-services.com
Used by: National Gallery of Scotland.
Transport Suppliers Outside
Scotland
C'ART
Unit 7, Brunel Court
Enterprise Drive, off Station Road
Four Ashes
Wolverhampton, WV10 7DF
T: 01902 791797
F: 01902 790687
E: info@arttransportuk.com
W: www.arttransportuk.com
Used by: City Art Centre, West Lothian
District Council Leisure Services, CCA,
National Museums.
Vehicles: 2x HGV, 7.5 Ton Truck.
Vehicle Features: Enclosed, Air
Suspension, Climate Control, Tail-lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 11m. Height: 3m.
Width: 1.5m. Maximum Tonnage: 17.5.
Capacity to Provide Specified:
Temperature, Humidity, Art Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Shipping, Organising
Tours.
Other Services: Installation and Hanging.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Sculpture,
Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Decorative
Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Not
specified.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity: Scotland Monthly, England and Wales - Weekly, .
Vehicles: HGV, 3 Ton Truck, Luton Box, 1
Ton, 17 Ton truck.
Vehicle Features: Air Suspension, Tail Lift,
Temperature Control, Climate Control.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Maximum Tonnage: 17 tonne
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets, Temperature Control, Pallet
Truck, Piano Trolley.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Shipping, Organising
Tours.
Other Services: Hanging and installation of
exhibitions and public sculpture. Packing.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Sculpture,
Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Decorative
Art, Furniture, glass, ceramics.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Fine
Art, Sculpture, Decorative Art, Travelling
Frames.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity: Scotland –
Fortnightly, England and Wales –
Daily/Weekly, Elsewhere - Less than
Monthly.
Hedley's Humpers
3 St Leonard’s Road
London, NW10 6SX
T: 0208 965 8733
F: 0208 965 0249
E: steve@hedleyshumpers.com
W: www. hedleyshumpers.com
Used by: Artists, Galleries, Auction Houses
and Museums Worldwide.
Vehicles: From Luton Vans to Trucks and
Trailers.
Lorries: Enclosed, Air Suspension, Tail Lift,
Security Locks, Tracking Systems.
6
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 14.2m. Height: 2.48m.
Width: 2.31m.
Maximum Tonnage: 20.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Art
Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose Work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Worldwide Shipping.
Other Services: Not specified.
Specialisms: Fine Art, Sculpture,
Decorative Art.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine Art, Sculpture, Decorative
Art.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Heavy
Sculpture Casing, MicroClimate Casing, Up
to Museum Standards, Travel Frames.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity:
Scotland - Weekly, Wales – Weekly,
England - Daily, EC - Weekly,
New York by Sea – Weekly,
The World by Air – Daily.
Additional Services: Competitive
Transport Insurance, Secure Storage,
Shipping, Organising Tours.
Other Services: Hanging and Installation.
Specialisms: Fine and Decorative Art,
Sculpture, Complex Installations.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: Fine and Decorative Art,
Sculpture.
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: Fine
Art, Sculpture, Industrial Objects,
Decorative Art.
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity: Scotland & Europe
- Weekly, Elsewhere – Daily.
Wells Cargo
Dock Centre House
2 Store Street
Dublin
T: 00 3531 836 5000
F: 00 3531 836 6562
E: info@wellscargo.ie
Used by: Matthew Architecture Gallery.
Vehicles: HGV, 3 Ton Truck, Transit.
Lorries: Enclosed, Air Suspension, Tail Lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle:
Length: 13.5m. Height: 3.0m.
Width: 2.5m. Maximum Tonnage: 40.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Not
specified.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated/Loose work.
Additional Services: Transport Insurance,
Secure Storage, Shipping.
Other Services: World wide courier
division service for small items and service
film industry.
Specialisms: Industrial Objects.
Specialist Skills in Packing and
Handling: On Request
Specialist Skills in Crate Making: On
Request
Capacity for Couriers: Yes.
Frequency of Activity: Scotland, - Daily,
Elsewhere - Daily.
Momart
199-205 Richmond Road
London, E8 3NJ
T: 0208 986 3624
F: 0208 533 0122
E: enquiries@momart.co.uk
W: www. momart.co.uk
Used by: National Galleries, Perth
Museums and Art Galleries, Edinburgh
College of Art, Glasgow Museums.
Vehicles: Sprinters, 10 Metre Rigid, 18
Metre Truck and Trailer, Arctic.
Lorries: Flat Bed & Lift, Enclosed, Air
Suspension, Climate Control, Tail Lift.
Capacity of Largest Vehicle: Length: 18m.
Height: 4m. Width: 2.6m.
Maximum Tonnage: 28.
Capacity to Provide Specified: Climate
Controlled, Custom Casing, Art Blankets.
Capacity for Items: Sculpture,
Large/Heavy Items, Uncrated Work.
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Useful Ideas
Fort William and Portree. (Society of
Scottish Artists)
Galleries, venues and artists across
Scotland were asked to contribute ideas on
how they had overcome transport problems.
The responses are collated below.
For small-scale exhibitions - use the taxi.
(Scottish Sculpture Trust)
We have used our Local Authority Direct
Services transit van, a trailer, and staff cars.
(Gordon District Council)
I priced up a multi-purpose touring vehicle
based on a 7.5 chassis, to include very
flexible floor locking point for
seating/cases/scenery; provision for stage
curtains/sidedrop with extending legs
footlights; multiple tying points (1995 prices)
We have used Red Star door to door
service/same day for small items, that are
non fragile (Aberdeen Art Gallery)
capital expenditure £50k
Revenue - specialist driver handler - £10k
on costs £5k. (Ross and Cromarty Leisure
Services)
Exceptionally where space has been
available and no diversion necessary,
ACGB have carried material from Ayr to
London. However this is not available on a
regular user basis. There are some
excellent general haulage carriers available
but many change load between vans on
route. Loads are usually taken on a 'shared
space' basis. (MacLaurin Art Gallery)
Magnus the Arts Bus. (Nairn District
Council)
Good reliable service in Scotland who are
aware of standards used as in European
services. (CCA)
For touring exhibitions in Scotland we use
our own vehicle or a hire vehicle. We will
use TNT or other non-specialist companies
if (and only if) the work is robust. (City Art
Centre)
The library service regularly takes a van out
to the islands and with training in packing,
handling, crate making etc, could become a
very useful resource for the West of
Scotland and other areas. (Argyll and Bute
District Council)
Making portable work that rolls onto tubes
for transporting as hand luggage in planes.
(Leisure Services)
Postbus, normal service bus. (An Tuireann
Arts Centre)
Use of mobile library service. (Sutherland
District Council)
In the past transport has been existing
resources within the Council, e.g. Parks
Department, Cleansing Department, and
the Sports Minibus and trailer. Apart from
moving bits of equipment around all these
means are unsuitable for the transport of
exhibitions and exhibits. (Annandale and
Eskdale District Council)
If frames can be acquired locally, unframed
prints can be posted cheaply using
Datapost. If an artist is travelling from
abroad, he/she could bring unframed
material as hand luggage. (Smith Art
Gallery)
In the Highland Region we have used the
Local Authority mobile library van to collect
works for the SSA's Annual Exhibitions from
collection points in libraries in Wick, Thurso,
We have over used the District Council
Mobile Van. (Isle of Mull Museum)
8
Our transport needs are generally fulfilled
through Lothian Community Transport
Services. (Collective Gallery)
Contacting the Scottish Arts Council
For information, publications, advice,
funding guidelines and application forms,
call the Help Desk on 0845 603 6000
(local rate)
Additional Information
Handling and Packing Works of Art Francis Pugh - Arts Council of Great Britain,
1978
If you are calling from outside the UK,
call +44 (0) 131 240 2444 or 2443
RICHARD, Mervin, MECKLENBURG,
Marion F, and MERRILL, Ross M, eds Art in
Transit: Handbook for Packing and
Transporting Paintings. Washington, DC,
National Gallery of Art, 1991
Visit our website at
www.scottisharts.org.uk
or e-mail the Help Desk at
help.desk@scottisharts.org.uk
BRAKE, Steve ed. Circulation and
Conservation. Reports from the Leicester
Conference on Touring Exhibitions March
1989. Touring Exhibitions Group, 1990
Touring Exhibitions Group Occasional
Paper 2
Scottish Arts Council
12 Manor Place
Edinburgh
EH3 7DD
Main telephone: +44 (0) 131 226 6051
Main fax: +44 (0) 131 225 9833
Typetalk: please prefix Help Desk
number with 18001
Touring Exhibitions Group
TEG has a national membership of galleries
and museums who create touring
exhibitions. They also produce ‘X’, a regular
publication of new exhibitions available for
hire.
T: 020 8691 2660
W: www.teg-net.org.uk
Contact: Mike Sixsmith
Information is provided by the Scottish Arts
Council in good faith and accurate at the date
of publication. We cannot take responsibility
for changes which may subsequently occur.
Scottish Arts Council - Information
Sheets
VAC4 - Exhibition Venues in Scotland
VAC5 - Sources of Touring Exhibitions
VAC9- Touring Exhibitions DIY Pack
NE4 - Galleries and Touring Exhibitions
(an electronic, bi-monthly
newsletter)
All information sheets are available from the
Helpdesk.
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