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David Henty (born 1958) is a former master forger. Acclaimed as ' the brushstroke alchemist,' his works are renowned for the accuracy and authenticity with which he paints perfect copies of original works by master painters. Henty copies works by Caravaggio, Pablo Picasso, Amadeo Modigliani, Vincent Van Gogh, Jean-Michel Basquiat and others. Many of Henty's forgeries have been sold by art dealers and auction houses as original works and are unknowingly included in many collections around the world. His paintings regularly sell for thousands of pounds.
In 2022 Henty provided the inspiration for the art forger character at the centre of Peter James' novel Picture You Dead and painted the 'lost' work by Jean-Honore Fragonard at the heart of the narrative. 'Everybody I show the work to is astounded' James said. 'He can copy so many artists from Fragonard to Caravaggio. They're just stunning.'
During his time in prison Henty developed not only his skill at painting but the methodology he now uses to faithfully recreate great masters' works. Henty found he could mentally transport himself out of his immediate surroundings by immersing himself in the life and work of an artist and meditating on a painting, brushstroke by brushstroke. By mentally submerging himself in this way, Henty discovered a flow state in which he could work and accurately and authentically recreate the artist's work.
In 2014 Henty was investigated by The Telegraph newspaper and he admitted selling over one hundred forgeries on eBay. Though eBay closed Henty's account, they could not stop his forgeries, which he continued to sell using alternative internet addresses. When The Telegraph followed up on Henty's story in 2015 and revealed his continuing illegal activities he turned the tables, thanking the newspaper for the free publicity which Henty used to launch his legitimate career as the best copyist of art in the world today.
He wrote: 'Since you did those stories, I have had quite a few new commissions. People read about... and send me letters requesting I do copies for them of masterpieces. As a result, I decided to go straight and business is brilliant. I can't thank The Telegraph enough.'
Revelling in his notoriety, Henty has since sold his works through several well-known galleries in the UK and through his website. His recreations of works by Picasso, Modigliani, Basquiat and other masters attracts prices in the range of thousands of pounds. Henty detailed his eBay activities and his unmasking as a forger in an interview on GB News. interview
Henty provided insights into the art forger's methods for the 'Hegarty' character and he demonstrated many of the dark arts while creating the 'lost' Fragonard painting at the centre of the mystery. Henty sourced a canvas from the period, the 1770s, and mixed his paint using pigments from the same era. He finished the forgery by heating it in front of the fire to create craquelure and fabricated patina by hanging it in the lounge room of a friend who smoked two packets of cigarettes a day.
Henty contributed to the stage design of the play Picture You Dead which is touring the UK from February to July 2025. Henty painted the forgeries of famous works that adorn the forger's den in the play. Former Coronation Street actor Peter Ash plays the 'Hegarty' character based on Henty in the play, which is adapted from the Peter James novel. The master crime writer James is 'in awe' of Henty's talent as a forger and believes Henty is 'the nicest villain I've ever met.'
Henty has said of his forgeries:
'Most ordinary people are not going to be able to put a quarter of a million pound painting on their wall. But for a few hundred quid you can own one that looks like it. I am just bringing art to the masses, affordable art.'
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