Sale of Properties

Artisan (UK) PLC
27 February 2003

For Immediate Release





                                Artisan (UK) plc


                               Sale of Properties


Artisan (UK) plc is pleased to announce that it has sold its properties at
Princess Square, Newcastle for £1,179,000 satisfied in cash (with £30,000
deferred). The sale was completed on 24 February 2003.  The pre-tax net return
on the investment in the financial period up to the date of disposal was £37,000
after interest charges.



The 34,000sqft leasehold retail parade in the centre of Newcastle was sold to
Keys, a local private property company.



Martyn Freeman, CEO of Artisan, commented:



'I am very pleased with the sale of these properties. Artisan was able to take
advantage of refurbishment and the improved rental values secured during our
ownership to produce a profitable return on its £1,080,000 investment, before
dealing costs, on the properties that we acquired in March 2000.



The funds released through the sale are intended to be utilised for the
acquisition of additional development land for the Group's Rippon Homes house
building subsidiary.'



King Sturge (Leeds) and Barker Storey Matthews advised Artisan with local agents
Sanderson Townend and Gilbert retained by the purchasers.









For further information, please contact:


Martyn Freeman              Chief Executive                   Tel: [phone]
                            Artisan (UK) plc


Ben Simons                  Hansard Communications            Tel: [phone]
                                                                   0771 309 0135













                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange                 DFIV