I speak globe-ish” declares Turkish-born Gül Coskun, owner of the Coskun gallery in London and a second, recently opened, space in Verbier. “It means English with a foreign accent. It’s what I tell my clients to break the ice because I don’t speak French or German and everyone speaks perfect English these days.”

Coskun seems to have a knack for sidestepping obstacles, having built both thriving modern art galleries from scratch — each with its own affluent and loyal clientele. The jewel in the crown, however, is her elegant home in Knightsbridge, a stone’s throw from Harrods. It is the modern-art-lover’s dream, adorned with original works — all personal favourites, hand-picked and sourced by Coskun herself, including several Warhols. “I love this house. I’ve been offered ridiculous amounts of money for it, but I feel happy here, and no amount of money can buy that.”

A self-confessed fashion junkie, Coskun is dressed head to toe in this season’s Luella. It’s chic and feminine without trying too hard, and avoids the style trap of toning down in order to be taken seriously in the business world. “I think it’s important to stay feminine; I don’t see it as a sign of weakness, it’s a strength,” she says.

She maintains that her successes are less to do with business know-how and more about her ability to socialise. “When I meet with my clients, I ask them about their day and joke around, I like to keep things light.” Her upbeat demeanour and infectious laugh belie the savvy, FT-reading entrepreneur lurking underneath. “People often say ‘she is a such a clever businesswoman’, but I have only done the things I have wanted to,” she says. “I wanted to open in Verbier, as I love to ski, but to me it’s been almost accidental.”

After moving to the UK to study English at Oxford University, Coskun was swiftly married. “He was very successful, but I was young and I wanted to be more than just a wife,” she says. Now single, she is guardian to her 14-year-old nephew, whom she adores. “He’s getting a whole floor to himself in Verbier. I spoil him, but I spoil everyone. I can’t help it.”

Life hasn’t always been so glamorous. “My parents died when I was four, so I was moved around between relatives. Then one day I had a sort of epiphany — I remember sitting in my room and thinking, ‘I am on my own now, but it’s going to be fine.’ ” The survival instinct has served her well.

Initially, Coskun set her heart on working for the Old Master Paintings department at Sotheby’s, but didn’t make it through the selection process. So, she decided to start her own business. “It hit me like lightning. I had to bring Warhol to London – I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.” Using her life savings, she arranged to buy several Warhol pieces in New York, shipped them to her home and threw open her doors for a party to lure the art aristocracy. “Nicky Haslam suggested releasing 1,000 helium balloons, and I covered the walls in silver foil, played the Velvet Underground and had a Warhol impersonator greet people at the door.” And so she was launched on the art world. But how does she keep focused? “I don’t really see obstacles or problems, I stay positive,” she says. “I’m up early every morning to exercise, it clears my head.” Being a problem-solver has it uses. “I’m good in a crisis. My friends come to me when something is wrong and I’ll break it down and solve it for them.”

The issue taking up Coskun’s time at the moment is that of renovating her new Verbier home. The style of her London house is understated and calm, so she’s giving the ski pad a more ethereal, magical mood. “The roofs are made of glass, so you can see the snow falling. I wanted it to feel like the snow was on the inside, too, so I asked for the floors to be painted white. The builders thought I was crazy because the wood was so valuable.” But she’s not one to back down. “I admire strong women like Margaret Thatcher,” she says. “I liked the way she would put her points forward – there would always be three yes’s even if she was saying no. Clever.”

www.coskunfineart.com

GUL’S FAVOURITE ART DEALERS

JONATHAN CLARK FINE ART Specialists in modern British art such as Ivon Hitchens’s Flowers in a Vase; www.jonathanclarkfineart.com

MARLBOROUGH FINE ART Encourages artists such as David Hockney and Lucian Freud to make original prints; www.marlboroughfineart.com

STUART SHAVE/MODERN ART Specialises in ultra-modern installations, and artists such as Karla Black and Ross Tibbles; www.stuartshavemodernart.com

GAGOSIAN GALLERY Features work by artists including Jeff Koons and Anselm Kiefer; www.gagosian.com

DICKINSON Interested in postwar art such as Peter Blake’s Black Woman, www.simondickinson.com

Explore Property

• Buying & Selling

• New Homes

• Overseas

• Interiors

• Investment

• Gardens

• Specials

Times recommends

• Interior design: It's time to end our craze for open-plan living
• How to make cool bedrooms for kids
• Inside Zaha Hadid's East London apartment