How to support independent artists in the UK (some ways cost nothing)

I'll be honest with you: I'm writing this partly because I'm an independent artist and I'd like you to support me. But it's useful for every small maker you love, so stick with me.

Being independent means no gallery, no agent, no marketing department. It's me, a stall at Jubilee Market Hall in Covent Garden, a lot of paint and a phone full of photos of my own work. Here's what actually helps people like me, from free to fancy.

The free stuff (which matters more than you think)

1. Leave a Google review

This is the big one. When someone searches "art Covent Garden" or "pop art London", reviews are a huge part of who shows up. A two-line review takes a minute and helps more than you'd imagine. If you've bought from me, you can leave a review here. Be honest: real reviews, good and bad, are what make reviews worth reading.

2. Follow and share

Follow the artist on Instagram, like the posts, share them to your stories, tag them when you post their work on your wall. The algorithm loves engagement, and it's free advertising from someone the artist trusts: you.

3. Tell a friend

Word of mouth still beats everything. "I got it from an artist in Covent Garden" is a sentence that sells art.

4. Join the mailing list

Mailing lists are how artists reach people without paying a social network. I run one called the Private View: first looks at new pieces before they hit the stall, and 10% off your first order. Sign up at the bottom of any page on my site.

5. Visit the stall or the studio

Come and say hello. Even if you don't buy, artists love meeting people who like the work. It's the best bit of the job.

The paid stuff (at every budget)

6. Buy direct

When you buy from an artist's own website or stall, they keep the whole sale. Marketplaces and shops take a cut. Same price for you, more for the artist.

7. Buy prints

Can't afford originals? Prints are how most artists pay the rent. Mine are £20 in A4.

8. Give art as gifts

Swap one high street present a year for something made by an artist. It's more personal, and it introduces a new person to their work. Ideas in art gift ideas UK.

9. Commission a piece

A commission is one of the best things you can do for an artist. It's guaranteed work, it's personal, and it usually becomes your favourite thing on the wall. Mine work with a 40% deposit to start: have a look at commissions.

10. Come back

Repeat customers are what keep independent artists going. You don't have to buy big. Buying one small thing a year from the same artist is genuinely meaningful.

What artists wish you knew

Selling art is a strange job. Some weekends are brilliant, some are quiet, and the rent is the same either way. A sale on a rainy Sunday can make an artist's whole week. A message saying "your print made my mum laugh" can make their whole month. Little things genuinely matter, and nobody in this game is too big to be grateful for them. If something you bought from a small artist made you happy, tell them. They'll remember it.

What not to do (with love)

• Don't ask for a discount for "exposure". Exposure doesn't pay for paint.
• Don't photograph work to copy it. Share it, tag the artist, but don't reproduce it.
• Don't buy knock-offs. If you see a design you love on a dodgy site, find the real artist.

Why it matters

Independent artists are what make a city interesting. Without us, every market hall would sell the same mass-produced magnets. When you support a small artist, you're keeping a bit of character in your town, and you end up with art that has a real story behind it.

How to find independent artists near you

• Markets and craft fairs, like the best art markets in London.
• Open studios events in your area.
• Degree shows at local art schools in summer.
• Instagram hashtags for your town plus "artist" or "art".
• Independent cafes and shops that hang local artists' work.

Supporting artists questions