Committed to helping businesses with AML compliance
Since implementation of the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive in 2020, AML compliance has become a reality for the art market in the UK, EU and beyond.
We founded ArtAML™ in 2018 and became Key Stakeholders for AML compliance as of 2019, committing to provide a simple and complete solution for art businesses and to act as a bridge between the civil service and art market. Designed in mind of end users who are not compliance professionals, you’re guided through the process to take a documented, risk-based approach.
Our mission
We are committed to assisting art businesses in integrating robust Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance programs seamlessly into their daily operations.
Through active crime detection and preventative measures aimed at thwarting economic crime targeted at the sector, we believe we can elevate the reputation of the art market.
We are dedicated to fostering trust between government authorities and the art market.
The core principles that underpin all our operations and interactions within the art market and with regulatory bodies are accessibility, fairness, professionalism, transparency and trustworthiness.
The story of ArtAML™
Context
In September 2018, Susan J. Mumford was attending the annual Art Business Conference in London when she learned that the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) would be hitting the art market in January 2020. She was immediately concerned about how small art businesses would handle the day-to-day of AML compliance for the relatively low transactional value of 10,000 Euros and sent news of this to technologist Dr. Chris King. Within days they had started work on solutions for this incoming challenge that also offered an opportunity to clean up the image of the sector.
Catalyst
By late January 2019 we had developed a mobile app prototype when we attended the Responsible Art Market (RAM) conference in Geneva. There, the incoming legislation for EU member states including the UK was a hot topic of conversation. Speaking to an audience of lawyers, insurance brokers and other service providers to the sector, a banker made a call-out to the audience that a technology-based solution was needed. Susan was the first to ask a question during the Q&A and immediately addressed the concern about a solution, as the co-founders of ArtAML™ were in the room. The mobile app prototype was shown to some conference attendees and the company was formed within days.
Timeline
In June 2019, we participated in HM Treasury’s consultation for the Transposition of 5AMLD into UK law, in which we provided much-needed insights into the contemporary and primary art market. That was followed later in the year by a meeting with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the then-incoming Regulator of UK Art Market Participants (AMPs). By this time we were becoming established as a Key Stakeholder for AML in the art market. ArtAML™ officially launched in 2020, initially providing a customer due diligence solution and latterly adding AML Training, business-wide AML Risk Assessment & Policy and Protection.
Sustainable development
ArtAML™ continues to evolve through regular engagement with HMRC and a commitment to our users for ease-of-use AML. We are committed to sustainable scalability, addressing our carbon impact, and ensuring integration with other art tech platforms. Our goal remains clear: to make compliance straightforward while supporting a more transparent, trusted art market.
Meet the founders
Susan J. Mumford
CEO and co-founder
After a decade operating as an art dealer and adviser, American entrepreneur Susan J. Mumford (MA) has built a career providing solutions for the art industry, based in Lewes, East Sussex. She’s also Founder & CEO of the Association of Women Art Dealers (AWAD). A keen amateur gardener, she can often be found in the garden with her hands in the soil.
Dr. Chris King
CTO and co-founder
Dr. Chris King (PhD) is an experienced software developer with 25 years’ experience in the financial sector. His most recent work has been developing cutting edge onboarding and Know Your Customer (KYC) solutions. He spends his free time pursuing fine art photography (represented by the Ivy Brown Gallery, New York) and making jewellery.
This [the 5th EU AML Directive] is going to incur a seismic shift for the art market and the way it does business.
Susan J. Mumford
ArtAML™ Chief Executive
The Art Newspaper, October 10, 2019
Meet the team
Martin Bealey
Finance Director
Martin is a Chartered Accountant (EY) with a BSc in Economics from Bristol University. He brings over 30 years of board-level experience across major institutions including the Debt Management Office, Standard Chartered Bank, and PA Consulting, as well as numerous SMEs with annual revenues ranging from £1m to £50m.
Grace Davis
Customer Experience Consultant
Grace has a background in Executive Search, Tech Recruitment, and Talent Coaching. With a degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Computer Science (AI) underway, she specialises in aligning business goals with customer needs. She brings strong CRM and project management skills to enhance client experience at ArtAML™.
Simon Davies
Developer
Simon is a full-stack web developer with 14 years of experience across various sectors. Skilled in both front-end and back-end technologies, he brings a broad technical skill set and a collaborative mindset to the ArtAML™ development team.
Francesca Imperiali
Paralegal
Francesca is a multilingual legal specialist with experience in top London galleries and a New York artist’s studio. With a focus on AML compliance in the art sector, she combines legal expertise with hands-on industry knowledge to support our mission.
Emerald Mosley
Design and Operations Manager
Emerald brings over 20 years of experience in digital and product design. With strengths in creative leadership, systems thinking, and user experience, she plays a key role in delivering intuitive, well-structured solutions at ArtAML™
Rebecca Prati
Paralegal
A multilingual legal specialist with an LLM in Commercial Law, Rebecca has expertise across Dutch, German, French, and English systems. Her cryptocurrency AML research sparked interest in technology compliance. Currently studying Art Law, she supports our clients to meet their AML obligations with confidence.
Harry Sweetman
Finance Manager
Harry is a qualified bookkeeper and Xero-certified advisor with strong expertise in cloud accounting. He has worked with a wide range of organisations, from start-ups to established businesses, including the not-for-profit sector.
Pere Villega
Developer
Pere holds a Master’s in Computer Science and has over 10 years of software development experience. Passionate about modern technologies and mentoring, he brings a thoughtful and quality-focused approach to building robust digital systems.
Channing Walton
Developer
With three decades in software architecture and development, Channing has deep experience in financial markets, investment banking, and internet technologies. A specialist in agile methods, he helps build high-performing teams and drives project success in complex environments.
Lance Walton
Developer
Lance has 24 years of experience in software design and development, spanning finance, health, and academic research. As a Scrum Master and agile coach, he excels at getting challenging systems into production and mentoring teams through complex builds.
The Real Workers
Milo Mumford-King
CDO
Proud Staffy-Jack dog and Chief Dog Officer, Milo comes to ArtAML™ after a distinguished career in London. His duties include meeting with the CTO (Chief Treats Officer), as well as liaising with his Human Resources to ensure that the quality and quantity of tummy rubs are up to expected standards.
Zorro Sweetman
Hedge Fund Manager (Ivy league)
A pygmy goat who loves to eat (especially ivy and chocolate cake). Lives with his mum in the field next door. Motto: “If you cannot clothe yourself with the skin of a lion, put on that of a goat. From now on I shall be Zorro, the goat!
Lord Aslan Tubbington
Head of New Ventures
This is Lord Aslan Tubbington, or Aslan. He clearly knows how handsome he is and fears nothing it seems.
Nyx Villega
VP of Napping
Nyx is a male Ragdoll, with too much energy for the household and a penchant to climb walls (literally). As you can see by his face, he’s the highly-qualified VP of napping.
Sky Villega
VP of Exploration
Sky, a female Ragdoll, and half-sister of Nyx. Luckily she has less energy when awake, but she compensates that by being the VP of Exploration. Inspect any cupboard you open before closing, as it is likely she got in without you noticing.
Rocky Walton
Junior Canine Developer
Rocky is a terrier mix. He’s unusually quiet for a terrier but not if approached by a broom, and extremely happy to meet anyone.
Need AML sorted?
Breathe a sigh of relief: at ArtAML™ we have a range of AML solutions to help guide your art business.
Customer Due Diligence
By using our platform designed specifically for Art Market Participants, we help you to fulfil compliance obligations without losing sales.
AML Policy and Risk Assessment
Find peace of mind with our comprehensive risk assessments and AML policy.
ArtAML™ Training
ArtAML™ Training will cover what you need to know about the Money Laundering Regulations and Proceeds of Crime Act to meet compliance obligations, provide insights for mitigating risks and protect your business.