A Conversation with Charles

For antique dealer Charles, his love for art started from a young age.

“I got into antiques rather by accident,” he shares. We’re sitting just outside Charles’ store, Gunnersbury Arts, found on the first floor of the market. “I started buying pictures for myself seriously about 25 years ago.”

Charles sells fantastic art pieces, alongside vintage books and pens. When you enter Gunnersbury Arts you can see the love that Charles has for all of the art he has collected.

Each painting is hung with pride, the walls covered in portraits and landscapes, contemporary and traditional. A story comes with each piece; Where is the painting set? Who is the painter? Why did they paint this? How did Charles acquire the piece?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Charles rediscovered the first picture he had bought seriously all those years ago.

“It was horrible,” he says with a chuckle. “It was so bad it made me laugh!”

But instead of hiding it away, Charles put the painting on his wall.

“I still have it as a reminder that when one starts something, at the beginning you are never quite as brilliant as you think you are.”

“And with time and with training and perseverance, you do get better at it.”

Since buying his first painting, Charles has been teaching himself more about art and paintings. He has done this through taking himself to exhibitions, reading books and going to talks.

When asked what Charles loves most about trading at Alfies, he says that it is the people.

“If you love talking to interesting people, then this is the place.”

You find Charles on the first floor of Alfies Antique Market.