Shipping policy

Every painting ships from my studio in Houston, Texas. I pack each piece myself, because I would rather spend an extra hour on the crating than lose a painting to a careless carrier.

Where I ship

Sarwat Art ships from Houston, Texas to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman), Australia, New Zealand and most of Asia, Africa and Latin America. If your country doesn't appear at checkout, message me and I will add it.

How shipping is priced

Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the packed weight and size of the artwork. Original canvases are packed in custom boxes or wooden crates, so a large painting costs far more to ship than a small one. Rates start at $20 domestically and can exceed $1,000 for oversized international freight. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay me — nothing extra is charged later by me.

Import duties, customs and taxes

For all orders shipped outside the United States, import duties, customs charges, VAT and any local taxes are the buyer's responsibility and are collected by the courier or customs authority on delivery. These charges are set by your government, not by me, and they are not included in the price you pay at checkout.

What buyers typically pay:

  • United Kingdom — original works of art are exempt from customs duty and qualify for a reduced effective import VAT rate of 5%.

  • United Arab Emirates — approximately 5% import duty plus 5% VAT. Artwork imports also require clearance by the UAE Media Council, which I will support with documentation.

  • European Union — no duty on original art in most member states; reduced import VAT applies and varies by country.

  • Canada, Australia and elsewhere — varies. Please check with your local customs authority before ordering.

If a shipment is refused or abandoned at customs, the return freight and any storage charges are deducted from the refund.

Processing and handling time

  • Smaller pieces: packed and dispatched within 3 to 5 business days

  • Large works, 48 inches and above: dispatched within 5 to 10 business days, because each one needs a custom-built protective crate

I email you a tracking number as soon as your piece is collected.

Transit time

Domestic transit is typically 3 to 7 business days. Very large works moving by freight can take longer, and I will tell you the expected window when I send your tracking number. International transit is typically 7 to 21 business days, plus customs clearance, which can add 1 to 3 weeks and is outside my control.

Tracking and insurance

Every order ships with tracking. All artwork is insured for its full purchase price. If a piece arrives damaged, photograph the outer box and the artwork before unpacking further and email me within 48 hours of delivery.

Oversized and high-value works

Paintings over 40 inches, and any work over $3,000, ship crated by specialist art freight. If you are ordering internationally, message me first — I can usually quote better than the automatic checkout rate.

Local collection in Houston — free

If you are in or near Houston, you are very welcome to collect your piece in person, free of charge. Email me after you order and we will arrange a time. Seeing the texture in person is worth the drive.

Questions

Email info@sarwatart.live, WhatsApp +1 832 955 3707, or message @sarwatart on Instagram before ordering if you are unsure about anything. I would rather answer a question than deal with a customs problem.