Record attendance at London Art Fair

Art of all shapes and sizes was on display at this year's London Art Fair. Credit: PA

More than 25,000 people attended this year's London Art Fair, figures have shown.

Some 25,020 visitors flocked to Islington's Business Design Centre to take the 24th edition of the event into the attendance record books.

It was the second consecutive year of record breaking, after the 2011 show welcomed 24,389 visitors through its doors.

This year's event got under way on January 18 and lasted for four days. Exhibitors say that Saturday offered the briskest trade, with the number of visitors up by 1,000 year-on-year. Overall 120 galleries showed their wares during the fair.

Jonathan Burton, London Art Fair director, said: 'We are delighted to have had so many visitors to our most successful London Art Fair to-date. The fair is often a barometer for the year ahead, so let's hope that this positive start will ring true for the rest of 2012.'

The record numbers helped fair mainstays such as Osborne Samuel, Danielle Arnaud and Pratt Contemporary enjoy their busiest trade on record for the event.

Officials also suggested that the crowds attracted to the fair were becoming more and more informed about art, with young and old people among those attending.

Many of the galleries exhibiting were still in the early stages of their existence, and they said that exposure at the event helped them grow.

'The fair sparks interest in young galleries such as ourselves,' said Giovanna Paterno of dalla Rosa Gallery.

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