Artex can have asbestos in it so maybe best to leave it where it is unless you can get a bit tested to check (only costs £10-£20 for a test direct with a UKAS lab).
We had out bedroom ceiling skimmed over. I primed it with new good quality PVA prior to plasterer skimming it. The result was quite good (not as perfect as new boards but still OK) and has stayed in place for the last year with no cracks etc. Plasterer cost less than 2 tubs of that Polycell junk and result far far better.
We had a fairly subtle random pattern to cover up – if you have some big regular geometric artex swirly horror then it might still show through in some light conditions.