Commissioned by Creative United and undertaken by Coventry University’s Centre for Creative Economies, the 2024 survey report provides an evidence base of UK artists’ incomes and the role of public investment schemes like Own Art into artistic consumer markets.
The report explores artists’ income from sales of their work, additional income streams (such as teaching and consultancy), and socio-economic characteristics. The findings paint a stark picture of low incomes, inequalities and income gaps.
Artists are adapting through diversification, but current data suggest that adaptability alone does not deliver sustainable livelihoods. To realise the full potential of the creative economy, greater recognition and policy support are required — including, for example, fair pay frameworks, investment in sales infrastructure, and continued backing for schemes like Own Art which provide vital pathways between artists and the ability to grow art and craft markets.
Summary findings
56% of respondents earned less than £5,000 from selling their art in 2024
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Even when additional artistic income is taken into account (such as teaching or facilitation), median annual income was still only £12,500, well below the UK living wage (£24,000).
Fewer than 10% earned over £25,000 from the sale of artwork
Income Inequalities
The report also highlights income disparities across artist demographics, including:
- Highest earners amongst respondents are mid-career artists (aged 45-64), while younger and older artists cluster at the bottom of the income scale
- Lower earning brackets are dominated by women and non-binary artists, confirming long-standing pay gaps across the visual arts
- One in five respondents report a disability or long-term health condition – one of the highest rates recorded across UK economic sectors
The Own Art Effect
Against this backdrop of low earnings, the report identifies Own Art as ‘an important mechanism for supporting artists’ livelihoods by facilitating incremental sales that might not otherwise occur’. The analysis suggests Own Art could generate incremental (additional) earnings equating to 12% of participating artists’ income from artistic activities.
Read the full report
Creative United's response
Following the findings of the report, and as part of our ongoing mission to support creative livelihoods across the UK, Creative United is expanding the Own Art consumer credit scheme. The changes, including higher thresholds on Own Art’s publicly subsidised loans, will widen market opportunities for artists across the UK. You can read more about our response and the expansion of the Own Art Scheme here.