Specialist Art Shippers?

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience shipping art from the US to the UK? 

All I have is one painting that I desperately want to have here, although it is large (4' x 5').  It is oil on canvas, on a streched frame.  The paint is thick and textured, so I imagine I would need to have it wrapped properly and shipped properly to avoid the paint chipping off or flaking. 

I have found a few Art Shipping services via Google but they are all either UK and Europe or US and Canada, or ship from the UK to the US.  It may or may not be worth much monetarily, but is very dear to me.  I want it to be safe but can't afford museum quality overkill. 

If anyone has had any similar situations I'd love some guidance! 

Are you shipping anything else over? I shipped a container of furniture, household goods, etc., including quite a few paintings. My shipping company packed it all and it just went with everything else. It was, of course, insured - but, as you say, the sentimental value counts just as much. 

When it comes down to it, the biggest issue is packaging.

We regularly ship art (usually within the UK) by ParcelForce or Royal Mail. We've never had a problem and I think that's mostly down to how we package each piece.

There's always a risk something will stab through the whole package, I suppose, but I don't know that a specialty shipper will send it in a way that prevents that.

Where are you shipping from and to? If you decide to get a specialist, I might be able to get you some names from other artists in those areas.

^^ do you have any tips on how to package oil?  Someone gave me a bollocking when I told them I wrapped a few smaller canvases in bubble wrap and shoved them in my suitcase--told that it being in plastic is bad for oil?  I am not an artist myself, so I am a bit (totally) clueless. 

I need to get home and photograph the signature on it to see if I can find anyone to give me clues to it's actual worth.  It was my grandmother's and knowing her it could very well be extremely dear--or it could have just been from a peer of hers from when she was at MICA (Maryland Institute of Art) in the '50s.  Other peices I inherited from her have been hit and miss as far as actual monetary value goes.

I am not shipping anything else, I donated or gifted to friends and family my entire existence when I moved here.  It needs to get from Ohio where it is hiding my mom's closet being totally unappreciated to London where it has a prize spot on my wall.

I plan on shipping three of my very large paintings over.  I was told, by my stepmom the artist, that you can just get the canvas taken off the frame.  Then they will roll the canvas and stick it in a big tube along with the fram pieces.  Once you come over- you'll have to have someone staple back together but it really is not too difficult.  I believe this is the cost efficient way as opposed to shipping a bulky painting in one piece.