The move follows a review of the German paper maker’s sales structure and strategy by UK managing director Nancy Janes, who joined this business in the spring.

Janes commented: “Hahnemühle products have been used by Picasso and NASA, we are craftsman in the digital age and have generations of knowledge to pass onto our customers and partners. 

“We need quality time to grow the Hahnemühle brand in the UK and having a best-in-class distribution partner in Art Systems will enable us to do that.”

Hahnemühle has been making paper in Germany since 1584 and has three business units: Digital FineArt, Traditional FineArt and Life Sciences.

Art Systems’ parent company Westcoast Group has a 42,730sqm warehouse in Andover, which now holds the Hahnemühle UK inventory. Art Systems lays claim to being the UK's largest wide format imaging technology distributor for indoor and outdoor graphics, manufacturing, and built environment. 

Hahnemühle’s Digital FineArt Collection for inkjet printing celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, and the firm also launched an app designed to offer customers technical support including short videos and detailed step-by-step guides.

The new arrangement with Art Systems takes effect from 1 December, with sales enquiries directed to approved UK resellers.