How to value a painting

I wanted to buy a sketch by Helen Bradley when my ex was at Salford University, but he said we couldn't afford it [it wasn't all that expensive] . Not sure how much her work is worth now. And a small oil painting of a Derby winner that was at our local antique shop; I certainly could've afforded that one but decided against it [at least it was post George Stubbs era!]. A friend of mine does very well by buying job lots of toys and finding things that are worth a lot of money [usually old dolls; some collectors of them are quite obsessive].

My watercolour collection reflects my passion for Greyhounds, the Liverpool waterfront and the village where I now live, hardly investments but I enjoy looking at them.

I would love to come across a Pre- Raphaelite painting at a carboot sale, who knows? One day soon perhaps? Dream on sook

I love paintings and have several stashed in the loft after moving from a relatively large house to a much smaller one. I haven't bought anything new for ages as I have neither the money or the space but I tend to go for subjects that interest me personally and not necessarily anything that I think may become valuable in the future. After all if you are going to hang a painting on your wall you want to enjoy looking at it don't you?

Our loft is full of clothes and equipment that our young grandchildren have grown out of, we could open a branch of Mothercare but I don't think we need an antiques expert - sadly!