Alexis Kleeman in conversation with Patrick Duffy, Associate Director and Archivist at David Messum Fine Art Ltd
Portrait provided by Patrick Duffy.
Patrick Duffy has been the Associate Director at David Messum’s Fine Art, specializing in mid-19th-century British Art, since 2022—a historic player in the London art market established by David Messum in 1963.
AK: What is your educational background, and what did you do before working at Messum’s?
PD: I was a fine art draftsman and printmaker at Central Saint Martin’s and transitioned into Central Saint Martin’s Culture, Criticism, and Curation degree program, focused on art history and theory. The program curriculum was geared toward art publishing and public relations, but it also offered a diverse range of other art-world aspects. It was a good program for someone looking for a more varied offering while still focusing on art history. After attending Central Saint Martin’s, I was hired as an intern at The Fine Arts Society in 2014, a gallery focused on mid-19th-century art. My position was supposed to be a one-month temporary internship, but I was kept on for seven years at the Society. I was promoted to Associate Director during that time. In 2022, I moved to David Messum’s Fine Art, which specializes in mid-19th-century British Art, as Associate Director.
AK: Did you always want to work in the art industry? What advice would you offer to anyone who wants to work in the gallery sector?
PD: Yes, I have always wanted to be involved in the art world and see myself as a creative person. I use my creative skills in the gallery and the day-to-day aspects of running an efficient and successful art gallery. I realized that although I am a creative personality. I lack the mentality to be an artist myself; it is a career that requires the will to struggle and fortitude, as success often comes too late for an artist to enjoy in their lifetime. However, this is not entirely the artists' fault. If art schools expanded their course offerings to teach students how to be self-employed, manage their finances, and promote their careers, they would have a substantially better chance of a fulfilling career in the arts. My advice for anyone looking to pursue a career in the gallery sector is to be persistent. It's a small, closed world with a lot of nepotism. Diversifying your skills will only make you more valuable. People skills, tolerance of differences, and grace in negotiation are invaluable, but the most crucial skill is applying common sense to every situation; it will be the most valuable tool in your career.
AK: Could you describe your role in the gallery in 2-3 sentences?
PD: My role is predominantly research and curation, including client research and external projects such as the Garden Museum joint exhibition last year. That was a unique challenge because David Messum Fine Art and The Garden Museum were running a joint sales exhibition across both locations, which required teamwork and efficient logistics coordination.
AK: What goes into planning an exhibition at the gallery? What is the most challenging aspect? What is your favorite part?
PD: Planning an exhibition at the gallery starts several months in advance. About 12 months in advance, plans will be developed, documented, framed, and delivered; the catalogue design and writing, online strategy, and PR will then be implemented. It is necessary to have all of these aspects prepared in advance so that on installation day, the focus is on the art. Of course, in a perfect world, all of these would go smoothly, but things happen, which is why we have such a long lead-in time to guarantee a high-quality exhibition for our gallery and the artists David Messum Fine Art represents. The challenging aspects are my favorite part of putting on an exhibition, for example, the short turnaround time between exhibitions, finding the narrative for each show, and tying it into the overarching themes and values of the gallery and what the gallery and David are known for.
AK: Messum’s has a very short turnaround window between exhibitions. How is this accomplished? What are the logistics behind it?
PD: Every 3 ½ weeks, there is a new exhibition. To accomplish this feat, we have an excellent logistics team and a fantastic off-site staff that handles the transportation, framing, project management, and knows the deadline for opening day.
AK: What is the next exhibition the gallery has planned, and what is the most exciting thing about the upcoming exhibition?
PD: Richard Hoare's Edge of Light: journey across a frontier is the next exhibition at the gallery. It will run from January 7th to 30th, and feature Richard’s works produced in his nomadic art studio, following the sun across his frontier and capturing the sky and landscape in his signature impasto style, using a unique, number-coded system to record the works in exact chronological order. It will be David Messum Fine Art’s first exhibition with this artist and the unique story his work tells.
Richard Hoare
022/25 Acension-Croagh Phádarig
Oil Painting on Linen
130x122.5 cm (51x48 1/4 ins)
Image provided by David Messum Fine Art Ltd.
AK: What steps is David Messum Fine Art taking to adapt to the changing art market?
PD: We are actively listening to the evolving market and adapting our strategy as demand shifts. Collectors and even casual buyers are becoming more selective about how they spend their money in the current market. This presents challenges, as art is a luxury good and not deemed a necessity, a low-priority purchase in our current economy, with its challenges. Of course, some people can still afford fine art, and to meet this demand, David Messum Fine Art diversifies its aesthetic offerings and price points to attract as many collectors and casual art buyers as possible. The gallery's focus remains on representing British art and artists, a diverse offering by nature, which keeps the gallery relevant across culture, the current economy, and art consumer trends.
Image provided by David Messum Fine Art Ltd.
AK: Will Messums be participating in The London Art Fair? If so, where will the gallery be, and what will you be exhibiting? If you can tell us.
PD: David Messum Fine Art is delighted to be exhibiting at the London Art Fair in January 2026. The gallery will showcase important works from some of our Modern British Artist Estates, including Miles Richmond (1922-2008) and Rose Hilton (1931-2019), as well as a special feature on the French artist Jean-Marie Toulgouat (1927-2006) and work by Dominic Welch (b.1970). Founded in 1989, The London Art Fair is a platform for discovery, connecting the best galleries from around the world with both seasoned and aspiring collectors. The Fair provides a unique opportunity to discover and champion the most outstanding Modern and Contemporary Art. Please Join Us From the 21st to the 25th of January 2026, ON STAND 34 AT THE LONDON ART FAIR.
Image provided by David Messum Fine Art Ltd.
Dominic Welch (b.1970) Dorsalis, 2012, bronze, an edition of 11, 42 x 35 x D 8 cm (16 1⁄2 x 13 3⁄4 x D 3 1⁄8 in)
Patrick Duffy and David Messum Fine Art remain a historic home for British art at 12 Bury Street, St. James, London SW1Y 6AB. Hosting a new exhibition featuring a different artist every 3 ½ weeks throughout the year, focusing on their specialty: 19th-century British Art. The next exhibition, Richard Hoare's Edge of Light: Journey Across a Frontier, will run from January 7th to 30th, 2026. It will feature several pieces from his nomadic journey from Acail to Orkney, Westray, capturing landscapes across the country in his signature impressionist, reminiscent style, and organized according to his chronological solar date system, and often accompanied by a short phrase of poetry that captures the essence of the painting and places it in a geographical and chronological timeline. David Messum Fine Art will also be participating in Classic Art London, from the 22nd of June to the 3rd of July, 2026.