David Henty

There is a peculiar thing that can happen to a painting when somebody discovers the wrong name is written at the bottom of it. Nothing about the canvas changes, the colours remain where they were and the brushstrokes do not rearrange themselves in embarrassment. Yet the picture that held your attention five minutes earlier can suddenly become considerably less interesting to everyone in the room. We have both spent years circling that contradiction, though our routes into art were very different.

20 October 2026 Can you spot a fake painting? What happens when you ask one of the world’s leading art forgery to paint one for you? Hear from world’s leading art forger David Henty and crime author Rob Starr Crime author Rob Starr and art forger David Henty host exhibition in Helm Gallery Brighton until 31st October. We chatted with David about his new book and why he took up writing and to Rob about how to forge works of art and the likelyhood of getting away with it.