Jopling and Taylor-Wood to divorce

A rumour that's been swirling around the notoriously gossipy art world for many months has, remarkably, turned out to be true. Jay Jopling, the owner of White Cube gallery in London, and his artist wife Sam Taylor-Wood, are getting divorced. A spokesman for Jopling's gallery, which in addition to Taylor-Wood represents high-profile artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, insisted that no one else was involved and that the split was entirely amicable.

In a joint statement issued at the weekend, Jopling and Taylor-Wood, who have been described as the First Couple of British contemporary art, said they were "saddened" by the decision and asked that their "privacy be respected" for the sake of their children.

Taylor-Wood, who is a Turner Prize-nominated artist best known for a video of David Beckham sleeping, has focused on film-making recently. She was nominated for the short film prize at the Cannes film festival this year for Love You More, written by Patrick Marber, and was recently chosen to direct a movie about the early years of John Lennon.

Jopling, 45, the son of Michael Jopling, a former Tory minister, is said to be a workaholic who does deals in his sleep. He certainly had his work cut out at Sotheby's last Monday when, as reported elsewhere on the People page today, he is alleged to have helped bid up the prices of Damien Hirst's work in order to keep its market value at a premium.

The break-up will have its effect on the London art scene: the couple, who met in 1994, presided over many a good party at their house in Marylebone, including a celebration of Kate Moss's 30th birthday.