Acquisition Completed etc.

ARTISAN (UK) PLC
6 August 1999

                       Artisan (UK) plc

Further to the announcement in the open offer document sent to
shareholders on 17 June 1999, Artisan (UK) plc ('Artisan' or
'the Company') announces that it has today completed the
acquisition of a   controlling interest in Joseph Driver
Building Limited ('Joseph Driver').

The Company has purchased outright 86% of the voting shares in
Joseph  Driver,  for  a  payment  of  £1,158,309.80  of  which
£1,013,521.17  has  been  paid in  cash  and  the  balance  of
£144,788.73  satisfied  by  the  issue  of  1,782,015  Artisan
ordinary  shares to the Vendors.  A further payment  up  to  a
maximum of £210,00  will  be payable to the Vendors, dependent
on  the  pre-tax profits achieved by Joseph Driver during  the
two years ending 31 March 2001.  Any such further payment will
be payable by 30 September 2001.

At  the  same time, the Company has entered into put and  call
options  to acquire all the remaining shares in Joseph  Driver
on the same terms.  The option is exercisable by Artisan on or
after 3 October 1999.

Joseph  Driver is a building and contracting company based  in
Tring,  Hertfordshire.  Its clients include a number of  local
authorities and housing associations, in London and  the  Home
Counties.   In  the  year ended 31 March 1999,  Joseph  Driver
earned profits before tax of £144,003 and on that date had net
assets of £1,267,750.

The acquisition follows the successful conclusion to Artisan's
recent Open Offer, which raised £3.32 million before expenses.

Commenting on the acquisition, Artisan Chairman, Stephen Dean,
said:

'Following our takeover of Bernard Ward Limited last year, the
acquisition   of  Joseph  Driver  will  further  broaden   the
geographical and client base of the contracting  side  of  our
Group.  It is another step in our strategy of building Artisan
into  a  strong regional contracting group, complementing  its
development and leisure industry contracting divisions.'

Application  has  been  made for the  1,782,015  New  Ordinary
Shares  to  be  admitted  to trading  on  AIM.   Dealings  are
expected to commence on 10 August 1999.



For further information please contact:

Artisan (UK) plc                        01480 436666
Stephen Dean, Chairman

Seymour Pierce                          0171 648 8700
Sarah Wharry

Boswell City Financial PR Ltd.               0171 583 2001
Glenda Boswell                Mobile         [phone]