Atch - It would need to be water based gloss, is it widely available here? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, thank you.
From an American pro Atch..........
Preparation is EVERYTHING.
First determine if what you are painting has been painted with an oil based paint or a latex water based paint.
To find out put some rubbing alcohol on a rag and wipe over an area that is not conspicuous.
If paint comes off or you get a white residue on your rag it is latex, if nothing comes off it is oil based.
Then wash the surface of the paint surface with TSP (which will actually etch the surface for a better bond) or spic and span even works.
Then lightly sand the surface and wipe down again.
Now you are ready to prime with the correct primer as not all primers are made for gloss paint.
In America it is very hard to even find oil based paints anymore.
Get a primer that is designated for a gloss latex paint.
If going over bare wood I would use a BIN or some other sealer first to seal up the wood and make it as smooth as possible.
Then sand lightly and apply the latex primer for gloss paints.
Walla, now you are ready for your finish coat of latex gloss paint.
They make additives for the gloss finish paints like Floetrol that you add that make the gloss paint slippery so it spreads easier and lays down flatter.
But again, those are American products.
Good luck in your project.
Post picture of the before and after. :-)