The Billy Mumford Art Gallery

This Art Gallery Contains the Works of Billy Mumford

Billy Mumford was a prolific British art forger who gained notoriety for selling thousands of fake paintings over several decades. Operating primarily in the UK, Mumford specialised in imitating the works of lesser-known but collectible artists such as Alfred de Breanski, John Le Capelain and Charles Levier.

His method involved buying cheap, unsigned paintings at flea markets and car boot sales, then adding forged signatures of sought-after artists to inflate their value. He would then sell the works to unsuspecting auction houses and collectors.

Mumford’s forgery business was so successful that he reportedly sold more than 1,000 fake paintings before being caught. His deception was finally exposed in 2009, leading to his arrest and conviction.

He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of fraud and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Despite his crimes, Mumford never considered himself a criminal, believing he was simply giving people what they wanted — convincing artworks at a fraction of the cost of genuine pieces.

His case highlighted the vulnerabilities of the art market, particularly in mid-tier auctions where authentication processes were often lax.

Mumford’s story remains a cautionary tale about the ease with which forgers can exploit the demand for affordable fine art.

Please Note — This Virtual Tour captures a moment in time, so some of the art in the VT may have since been sold since the VT was created, and the pricing has increased to reflect the current market.