Annual Salary
Variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Fine artists create original works of art using methods like painting, drawing and sculpture.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: freelance / self-employed; managing your own hours
There will be
4.3% more Fine artist jobs in 2029.
As a fine artist, you'llcreate artworks from your own ideas, or commissions from an individual or an organisation; promote and sell your work through an agent, or through galleries, exhibitions, shops or online; research subject matter, materials and new artistic techniques; develop your expertise in one or more media; network with agents, dealers, gallery owners and other artists; attend exhibitions and join artists’ groups
You might also:
You could work in a creative studio, in a workshop or from home.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need a high level of skill and talent in your chosen art form. To develop these skills, you could train by doing a degree or postgraduate award.
Subjects include:
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course like art and design or creative practice, to develop your skills.
Courses will usually give you the option to choose to study your preferred medium, for example:painting or drawing; printmaking; photography and digital arts; ceramics; sculpture
Volunteering with community arts projects can open up possibilities and extend your network of contacts, which might be useful for finding work.
If you're exceptionally talented and have taught yourself, you may be able sell your work without formal training or qualifications.
When applying for art courses, you will often need a portfolio of your work. It is a good idea to make a start on this as early as possible.
As a fine artist, you'll need to be able to promote yourself in different ways.
You could:create an online presence through your own website, blog or social media channels; join together with other artists to form a 'collective' or artistic community; organise your own shows in galleries or other venues
You could also:get an agent; illustrate products like books or greetings cards
Entering competitions or open exhibitions can also raise your profile as an artist. a-n The Artists Information Company regularly lists opportunities.
You could become a member of a-n The Artists Information Company or Visual Artists Association for networking and professional development opportunities.
You can find out more about becoming a fine artist from:Artquest; Crafts Council; Discover Creative Careers
With experience, you could move into areas like:art therapy; set design; art conservation; gallery management; valuation and sales
You could also combine working as an artist with teaching.
You'll need: