Specialist Fine Art & Antique Removals

Fine Art Movers for Antiques, Fine Art & Valuable Collections

Abels Moving Services specialises as fine art movers for high-value removals: antiques, delicate collections and valuable items such as wine, paintings, books and sculptures, across the UK and overseas. We have the expertise to ensure your relocation is seamless and that your valuables receive the care and attention they deserve.

As one of the UK’s leading moving companies with roots in auctioneering, we understand provenance, value and the importance of specialised logistics. Our highly trained, security-cleared crews provide professional handling from first assessment to final delivery, no matter how large or delicate your collection, ensuring each item is packed, protected and delivered with precision, both within the UK and internationally.

We serve private collectors, museums and art institutions with white-glove removals tailored to the most demanding moves, backed by MoveProtect Liability Cover for extra peace of mind on high-value shipments.

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Our Accreditations

Specialist Packing Services for Your Most Treasured Items

From the outset, we provide a dedicated Relocation Consultant, your single point of contact throughout the move, with clear communication at every step. We build a removals plan around your specific collection, residence, and requirements, using high quality materials matched to what’s actually being moved rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, giving your most precious items maximum protection from the first box to the last.

Choose from modular services including:

Full cataloguing of your entire collection, fragile and unique pieces alike
Specialist packing, wrapping and museum-grade crating using high quality materials
Air-ride transport and secure shipment for larger consignments
Secure storage with environmental monitoring
White-glove delivery, unpacking and installation

Choose the moving services you need, creating a tailored, cost-effective package for your move.

Specialist wrapping of antique furniture

Our Fine Art Moving Process

Moving fine art or antiques safely comes down to preparation as much as the move itself. Our process typically includes:

Choose from modular services including:

Assessment and condition photos We assess each artwork before the move, whether it’s at a private premises, a gallery, or an auction house, and take condition photos, useful for both our packing plan and for any insurance documentation.
Specialist packing Every piece is packed for its own specific fragility, with materials chosen to preserve the artwork’s condition and protect against vibrations, temperature changes, and knocks in transit.
Precise transport Air-ride vehicles and trained crews get your collection from origin to destination without the piece changing hands more than necessary.
Delivery and installation Once your collection has arrived, our team unpacks and, where needed, installs pieces at their destination, whether that’s a private home, a gallery, or an exhibition venue, with the same utmost care used on the first day.

What We Move as Fine Art and Antique Specialists

Not every valuable item needs the same handling, which is why our packing and transport plans vary by piece:

Paintings and works on paper Custom crating built to the exact dimensions of the frame or canvas.
Sculptures and large installations Rigging and lifting equipment for oversized or awkward pieces.
Antique furniture and grandfather clocks Padded wrapping and, where needed, partial disassembly for safe transit.
Grand pianos and musical instruments Specialist handling for weight distribution and climate sensitivity.
Wine collections Temperature-controlled transport and storage.

Two men are carrying a piece of fine art into a box, getting it ready to go into storage.

Why Leading Collectors Trust Abels for High-Value Moves

Whether relocating a climate-sensitive wine collection or a centuries-old grandfather clock, Abels combines technical skill, discretion and tradition.

Every member of staff at Abels takes part in an ongoing programme of personal development at our training centre to maintain our high company standards. Many staff hold professional qualifications and have considerable experience moving high-value items.

We’re proud members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and FIDI, and are honoured to hold a Royal Warrant, recognition of our service excellence.

Start your journey with a free in-home consultation and discover why the most discerning clients choose Abels.

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Fine Art Shipping and International Moves

Fine art shipping abroad brings extra considerations on top of a standard move: export documentation, customs paperwork, and insurance cover that actually matches the value of what’s travelling. Our international removals service handles the logistics for collections crossing borders, whether that’s a single piece going to an exhibition overseas or an entire collection moving with you to a new country.

For valuable shipments, we recommend inventory-based liability cover under MoveProtect, with a choice between like-for-like or new-for-old compensation depending on how you want your collection covered.

Storage for Your Antiques

Need to store valuable items during or after your move? Abels offers climate-controlled storage for art and antiques, monitored 24/7, perfect for fine art, antiques and delicate collections.

We also partner with restoration specialists, should your items need attention while in our care.

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FAQs

What is the best way to ship fine art?

The safest approach uses a mover with genuine fine art experience rather than a general parcel courier: condition photos before the move, packing materials matched to the piece, climate-controlled transport for sensitive works, and insurance cover based on the item’s actual value rather than a standard parcel limit.

How much does it cost to transport art?

Cost depends on the size and fragility of the piece, whether custom crating is needed, the distance involved, and whether the move is domestic or international. A proper assessment gives a far more accurate figure than a general parcel quote, which is why we start with a consultation rather than a price list.

Can I send paintings by post in the UK?

Standard postal and parcel services aren’t designed for fragile or valuable artwork, and most won’t offer insurance that matches the piece’s real value. For anything of genuine value, a specialist fine art mover that can assess, pack, and insure the piece properly is the safer route.

What is the best way to transport large or oversized paintings?

Large paintings need custom crating built around their exact dimensions, careful handling to avoid pressure on the canvas or frame, and a vehicle with enough space to transport them flat or upright without contact with other items. A site assessment beforehand, checking doorways and access at both ends, avoids problems on moving day.

Request a Personal Consultation For Our White Glove Moving Services

All removals are led by security-cleared technicians professionally trained in fine art and antique handling. Whether you’re a new enquiry or an existing customer, our team can be reached by phone on our main UK line, our international line, or our London number if your business or collection is based in or around the capital, and we’ll pass on our full contact details once your consultation is booked.