I will be completely honest about the things that I find hard in my business and what other artists struggle with too. Knowing these will either comfort you if you experience them, or help you avoid them altogether by pre-planning now. The road to becoming an artist is a winding one, but it is hugely fulfilling and SO worth it.

Here are some of the things I have learnt so far: 

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Learning to deal with disappointment is an important skill to develop as an artist, as there will be times when your work is rejected for various reasons. All creative people experience this throughout their careers, and how you handle it defines your likelihood of reaching future success.

First, you need to remember that it is not you that is being rejected, just something you created. You can...

This is how I started a successful art business from scratch. I hope it offers you some insight into how you can develop and grow your own art business.

While I studied Fine Art and graduated in 2000, the following years brought with them the odd painting here and there, a few commissions, a couple of joint exhibitions and while I sold a few paintings, I had other jobs to support myself.

In...

1. Focus on the major things not the minor things

So many people seem to mistake movement for achievement and end up just frantically doing 'busy' work, but feeling so stuck and wondering why they’re not making progress. The problem is that a lot of us focus 80% of our time on the minor stuff, rather than the major stuff that’s actually going to move the needle. One of the best...

I'm a keen runner and recently did a 10km race which I have taken part in several times. However, this time was different. I found my ideal pace early on and stuck to it throughout. I was less bothered about my overall time and as a result, enjoyed it more. When you take part in a race with thousands of people, there are always going to be runners who are faster than you, and those who are...

Investing in your art business is a crucial part of growth! Investing in yourself tells me that you are thinking about your business long term. I firmly believe that if you take the time to learn about the basics business and apply the principles, you will supercharge your productivity and success.

It took me too long to take my business seriously and begin investing in it. You do not need a...

Andy Warhol was a prolific and successful American artist, best known for his pop art depiction of Campbell's soup cans.

Not only was he a great artist, he was also a master marketer, promoter and art business man.

He had an art business philosophy, which went something like this:

"Business art is the step that comes after Art. I started as a commercial artist, and I want to finish as a...

I believe that resilience and grit are two of the most important skills we need as artists. Even more important than talent for some! There are a lot of talented artists out there who get knocked back or rejected a few times and give up. Don't let that be you. Success comes from learning how to handle rejection, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going! These are the artists who...

My advice to artists starting out is to always buy the best art supplies you can afford. Someone once told me that, and ever since, my materials have improved as my income has grown. I didn't need the best paints or linen canvases when I was just beginning and going through my 'experimental' phase, but as my work started to sell, I upped my game and invested in both myself and my materials.

I...

Making art is a different experience for every artist, and we all make art for different reasons. For some, it is a hobby. A way to unwind at the weekend after a busy week at work. Some turn that hobby into a side business, which brings in a bit of money to top up their main income.

Others know they want to make a career out of their art, and do it full-time if they can. It then becomes a...

It may come as a surprise that I am an introvert, but I find a lot of artists and creative people are, so maybe you are one too!

It can be seen this as a disadvantage when it comes to business, as it's usually the extroverts who get noticed first, but I want to show you how you can use it to your advantage, and focus on your strengths.

Being an introvert is not about lack of confidence or being...