I'm looking at you - yes you, the artist who wants to 5x their income, start charging their worth, get into more galleries and finally start living the life they’ve been dreaming of.

I know it sounds too good to be true but hear me out. I used to charge £40 for my 40cm limited edition Lino prints, now I charge a minimum of £270. So what changed?

There were a number of things - artists and collectors told me I was charging too little, I wanted to sell through galleries but I was going to be losing money and (and this is the biggest thing) I started to value what I was doing and take myself seriously as an artist.

When you want to create a sustainable art business rather than a hobby that pays for itself, you have to think seriously about the numbers. It’s no good plucking a number out of the air or simply charging what someone else does. That’s not going to ensure you cover your costs and make a decent profit. Do you think that’s what the likes of Frida Kahlo or Georgia O’Keefe would do? Hell no!

Being an artist is a ‘real job’. It can pay you a comfortable income but you have to be strategic.

People often ask me where my business name came from. A lot of artists just use their name. I often think The Peacock & The Printmaker sounds like a fairytale - in fact one of my friends wants me to write a children’s story with that name. Maybe one day but for now I’m far too busy enjoying getting my hands covered in ink.

How it All Started…

When I first decided to put my artwork on Instagram I was terrified - it was only a hobby after all. I was terrified of people’s opinions and of what to say. I had no clue about photographing my work and it certainly wasn't meant to be a business yet.

For the sake of setting up an account I chose the handle heatherdoesprints. It was very Ronseal but that’s me really. People asked about buying my prints so I set up an Etsy shop in the same name.

Nobody starts an art business because they want to spend their life in front of a computer, right? We want to have lots of time to create but there are other tasks that we have to do in order for our clients to be able to see the work so that they can buy it. Having said that, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of doing loads of admin in order to feel like you’re being effective (I am guilty of this). So in order to save you time and stress, I’m Heather Moore, owner of The Peacock & The Printmaker. I have been selling my art for 7 years and have put together a list of things NOT TO DO so that you have more time for the art and the essential biz jobs.

Are you an artist who’s also a parent and worrying about how you’ll keep the business ticking over the holidays?

Here are some tips to help keep your business going without feeling like you’re missing out on time with your kids or like you’re going to drop all the plates.

1. Plan ahead! When can you work? What are your priorities?

2. Be kind to yourself - plan in little pockets of relaxation, ask for help and be prepared to let some things go. The business is there to support your chosen lifestyle.

3. Be realistic - what can you actually manage? If time is not available then posting daily to socials and running workshops is not going to work.

4. Recycle - got reels and carousels that have done well before? Repost them with new captions. Chances are, a lot of your audience didn’t see them anyway.

5. Cheat - use apps like CapCut to create quick reels

Nobody starts an art business because they want to spend their life in front of a computer, right? We want to have lots of time to create but there are other tasks that we have to do in order for our clients to be able to see the work so that they can buy it. Having said that, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of doing loads of admin in order to feel like you’re being effective (I am guilty of this). So in order to save you time and stress, I’m Heather Moore, owner of The Peacock & The Printmaker. I have been selling my art for 7 years and have put together a list of things NOT TO DO so that you have more time for the art and the essential biz jobs.

What piece are you most proud of selling, and what story does it tell?

I remember selling one of my peacock prints to a lovely man at a local art market. He was looking for something special for his sons who had just moved into his own home. He saw the peacock and loved it. He walked around the market and came back for it. I was overjoyed at how he was pulled back to it among so many beautiful pieces and it was the first print I sold to someone outside of my friends and family group.

It may seem like social media is the priority when setting up an art business (and it can be really helpful in being seen) but there are so many ways to be seen outside of the social media rollercoaster. Here are 6 alternative ways to share your art that are great strategies for growing your audience and getting your beautiful artwork in front of your ideal clients.