Thousands of recent art graduates in the first stages of their careers offer top-notch work at bargain prices. Picking this kind of art for an investment is a high-risk game, so the oft-repeated mantra holds: buy what you like and want to see on your wall. You can pick up bargains at the art schools' end-of-year or mid-term shows or from specialist dealers such as newbloodart.com. Sarah Ryan a co-founder of the latter, says that now is the perfect time to commission work from emerging artists because, although prices remain down, there have been recent signs of recovery. She says: 'One customer recently commissioned three portraits from Michael Roberts, the Welsh artist who was represented in the BP Portrait Award in 2003. The paintings are small but exquisite and cost as little as £120 each.'