For many people, buying art feels like something other people do. Galleries can be quiet and intimidating, prices are not always on show, and it is easy to feel you need to know a lot before you are allowed to buy anything.

You don’t. Most collections start with one piece someone simply liked: a small print from a market stall, a drawing by a friend, a painting found at a fair. A few more follow, and a collection grows without anyone planning it.

Buying original art also means something to the person who made it. When you buy directly from an artist, or from a student at the start of their career, you are supporting their work in a very real way. And you get something no one else has on their wall.

There are plenty of ways to find art at a price that makes sense. Some are online, some are in person, and some are as simple as a weekend visit to a local auction.

A few things are worth keeping in mind. Buy what you love, not what you think will go up in value. Measure the wall before you fall for something. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Artists and sellers are usually happy to talk about the work.

These are six places to start.

1. Art fairs. The Affordable Art Fair and The Other Art Fair bring hundreds of artists into one place, with prices shown on the wall.

2. Degree shows. Art schools show their graduating students’ work every summer. It is where to find artists at the very start.

3. Online galleries. Sites such as Artfinder and Saatchi Art let you search by size, colour and price, and buy directly from the artist.

4. Print sellers. A limited edition print is a way to own work by an artist whose originals are out of reach.

5. Auction houses. Local and online auctions are often cheaper than a gallery, and you can find older work with real character.

6. Antique fairs and markets. For unsigned paintings, old frames and botanical prints.