Should I have a Sale?

That was the question I asked myself a couple of weeks ago followed by, 'will it undervalue my work and what if no-one buys anything?'. It was not a decision I made lightly and I thought you might be interested to hear why I decided to have one.

My earliest art memory was entering a competition in a church magazine when I was at primary school. I had to colour a picture in (I think it was a teddy bear) and add something to it (a stripey sock?). I won and it was totally unexpected and I felt very assured.

I'm still entering competitions today. If selected, they're a great way to get more exposure and it's a real confidence boost to know that a judge thinks your work is good enough to be exhibited.

I mainly enter open calls. There are so many nowadays and it costs money to enter them, so I have to be picky, choosing to enter a small number each year. It's the best feeling when a piece gets selected and it's hard not to feel rubbish when it gets rejected.

People are often surprised to hear that when your artwork gets selected for an open call, and subsequently sells at that exhibition, an artist often has to pay between 35 and 45% in commission plus sometimes VAT on the commission. I do understand why that is. Exhibitions cost money and galleries have large overheads. They also have a huge network of contacts and potential customers and great footfall - it's a fantastic way to get your work seen.

It does, however, mean that once my work started being selected for open calls I had to increase my prices. By the time you factor in the entry fee, commission, cost of delivery and travel to the private view you're left with a fraction of the sale price. It's not the only reason. I also like to think that my work has naturally increased in value over time.

As I said in my newsletter, it was after the exhibition at The Maltings that I first thought about having a sale. I felt a bit deflated storing my paintings back in my studio after the buzz of having them on display.

After mulling the idea over for a few days I decided to trust my gut instincts. With some advice from a trusted advisor I decided to go for it. A Summer Sale, a one-off rare occurance giving people the chance to buy my work at a reduced price for a limited time, with reductions reflecting the normal commission I'd have to pay a gallery.

Most of all, I was keen to have some movement in my studio and make space for new work - for things to be constantly evolving but of course I was also hoping to make some money so that I can afford to keep doing what I love!

The good news is that if you're reading this in August 2026 the sale doesn't end until 4th September, so there's still time to grab a bargain.