In this episode, Tom and Peter answer some of your questions. Firstly they discuss knowing when to raise your prices, followed by a question about the value of art fairs and finally, how much time to spend on social media.

If you have a question you’d like to put to us and would be happy for us to answer it here on the podcast please send it to us via our website here or alternatively you can send it to us via Instagram.

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

In this episode, Peter interviews art industry expert, Claudia Kennaugh. 

Claudia is the founder of Art and People; a Bristol based art advisory service, offering guidance to artists and collectors. Before setting up Art and People, Claudia worked in the arts for 15 years, first as a musician and performing artist, then gallery manager, art advisor and partner of the Hollywood Road Gallery in London. She has seen both sides of the table - the artist’s perspective, but also the gallery’s - and she now helps artists navigate that sometimes rather opaque system of pricing, sales, and professional relationships. 

For more information about Claudia and Art & People, please visit: www.artandpeople.co

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com 

In this episode Peter and Tom interview artist, Rodney Kingston.  Rodney studied at Wimbledon School of Art and Camberwell College of Art, before embarking on a career as a graphic designer. For the past 10 years or so, Rodney has been painting more and more alongside his employment, before taking the plunge about 12 months ago, to pursue his career as an Artist, full time. In this interview, we ask him what led up to him  "taking the plunge", as well as the highs and the lows of these past 12 months and what he wishes he had known beforehand.

You can see Rodney's website here: www.rodneykingston.com

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

For a couple of months the Ask an Artist Team are taking a break from recording to concentrate on other things that need to be done: On-line teaching and book writing both have deadlines that cannot be put off!  While we are away  we have selected some episodes from our archive, if you have already listened to them in the past then maybe they deserve a second outing.  If these are new to you then we hope that you enjoy.

This weeks' replay is our Look at Photographing your work in which the Talented Mr B whose podcasting responsibilities are usually as sound man, talks about some of the things that you should consider when photographing your artwork. First released in March 2020

For a couple of months the Ask an Artist Team are taking a break from recording to concentrate on other things that need to be done: On-line teaching and book writing both have deadlines that cannot be put off!  While we are away  we have selected some episodes from our archive, if you have already listened to them in the past then maybe they deserve a second outing.  If these are new to you then we hope that you enjoy.

This weeks' replay is our interview with Michael Harding whose oil paints are some of the finest available.  First released in March 2020

In another of their popular Listener Questions episodes Peter and Laura discuss how to wrap paintings and works on paper to send them to customers, wether you should, if asked, trim your work to have a different amount of border and if you should take up art as a second career?

In this episode Laura and peter talk about the tricky subject of signing your work.  Their different genres have different conventions and getting it right so that you fulfil the conventions and your own aesthetic ideas and the need to let your public know that this is your work.  There's more to this than one might have imagined!

After a year of cancelled shows, fairs and other events it would seem that the people (craetive ones) that have fared best are those that have come up with their own solutions to their lack of places to sell their work.  In this episode Laura talks to Peter about the online show he had late last year and they discuss some of the other On-line experiences that they have had.

If you make your living as an artist then having a style that people recognise can help in several ways, it's easier to deal with galleries if they know what to expect, your customer base too likes to recognise your work amongst others and if you are building a 'brand' then your identity is central to that.  However, some people just cannot help themselves from working in different ways, different materials, different genres or different aesthetics.  In this episode Laura and Peter discuss their ideas on the best way to navigate this, hopefully avoiding some of the pitfalls.

In this episode Peter and Laura discuss some of the issues that arise from putting a title on the masterpiece you have just created.  Is it necessary, will it make a difference to whether it will sell, or what people will think of it.  It's not always easy to find the title that is going to fit best with the piece, so sit back and hear what Laura and Peter do

Strange as it may seem when Laura and Peter are not recording this podcast they are not sat in their studios listening over and over to previous episodes!  However they both like to listen to podcasts and in this episode they chat about which ones they favour.

This episode of Ask an Artist is another opportunity for listeners to pose questions to Perter and Laura.  Today the questions cover some of the tricky things that you need to consider if you are a printmaker taking on a commission, some of the things that you should consider when you are buying an easel and how to go about approaching magazines with ideas for articles. 
If you have a question that you would like to ask please visit www.askanartistpodcast.com or search for Ask an Artist Podcast on Instagram or Facebook

Becoming a successful artist is not a sprint, it's a marathon.  Laura and Peter chat in this episode about the various things that you need a bit of stamina for is for want to make it as an artist.

In this episode, Peter and Tom answer some of your questions. Firstly there's a two-part question from an Artist looking to exhibit for the first time, asking about the pricing of prints and how to create excitement around the work. After the break, there's a question about charging for travel expenses.

If you have a question you’d like to put to us and would be happy for us to answer it here on the podcast please send it to us via our website here or alternatively you can send it to us via Instagram.

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

In this episode Laura and Peter are delighted to welcome Dr Robert Travers whose gallery in Holland Park in London is currently hosting - Online - a Ben Nicholson exhibition.  
However, the main topic of conversation is the 'Ruth Borchard Collection' a stellar collection of 20th century self portraits, 100 paintings collected between 1958 and 1971.   The collection has inspired a self portrait prize, with a prize of £10,000 for the winner.  
The collection and the Self-Portrait Prize are organised by Robert who talks passionately about the history behind this fascinating selection of paintings and drawings.

Making a podcast about the business of being an artist we did not imagine having to make episodes about global pandemics, but here we are, 10 months on - How has the pandemic affected us and how have we steered our businesses through these difficult times?

This is the second part of Peter and Laura's discussion with Jurgita Galbraith whose Gallery: Birchtree Gallery, in Dundas Street Edinburgh specialises in work on paper alongside applied craft.  This podcast focusses on the relationship between the gallery and the artist during and after an exhibition. Laura has exhibited several times at Birchtree Gallery and the relationship between her and Jurgita has developed into a productive friendship.  The message is very much that the better the relationship you build with galleries who are showing your work the greater the success you can expect!

In this episode Laura and Peter are talking to Jurgita Galbraith who has a gallery in Dundas Street in Edinburgh. There was so much good material in the interview that we have split this into two episodes, in this first part the discussion is about building a relationship with a gallery, what the gallerist may expect from an artist  and a few things that an artist really should avoid in their dealings with a gallery.

In this episode of Ask an Artist Peter and Laura talk about some of the things that they feel thankful for, and what their New Year's resolutions are. 

No real advice this week, other than that you should take the day off!

Please note we recorded this episode at a time when both the Keegans and the Boswells had expected to be getting together with select members of their respective families which was reflected in what we said.  As we upload this the situation is rather different, we are in Tier 4 which is pretty well a full lock-down and our Christmas's will be  somewhat scaled back - and definitely within all current regulations!

Have you ever struggled to find inspiration?  Have you had anxiety trying to figure out what kind of printing press to buy?  Have you wandered if the degree you worked so hard to get will be respected (or if you should have gone to art school rather than making your own way into art)?
Peter and Laura answer three very different questions, posed by listeners, if you have a question then let us know at our website: www.askanartistpodcast.com or through our social Media channels, search Ask an Artist.

In this second part of our interview with potter Keith Brymer Jones Laura and Peter are focussing more on Keith's role as a judge on Channel Four's 'Great Pottery Throwdown' and also on his involvement in developing a new type of qualification for crafts at Schools level

In this episode of Ask an Artist Laura and Peter talk to Keith Brymer Jones.  Keith is probably best known as a judge on The Channel Four programme on TV: The Great Pottery Throwdown, but that will have to wait for next week.  This week the discussion is about how Keith became a potter, how, as a potter he worked for companies like Heals, Habitat and Laura Ashley and how he ended up as the Director of Design at Make International, a company that produces some of the best known ranges in ceramic design.

Fitting in all the stuff you need to do as an artist is something you might not think about when you are starting out.  Initially you just want to 'do art!' and who wouldn't.  However being organised when the administration of your career as an artist begins to overwhelm your creativity may well maintain that all important studio time.  Peter and Laura talk this week about how they manage their time

In this episode Peter and Tom, interview artist, Tushar Sabale. Tushar is a London-based artist who is renowned for his oil paintings and is represented by numerous galleries. He has won numerous awards for his work and as well as painting, he finds time to be an ambassador for the Broadway Arts festival, runs the London plein air painters group and regularly teaches oil painting workshops. In this episode, we hear how he started as an artist and how he manages his artistic output and business today. 

You can see Tushar's website here: www.tusharsabale.com

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

In this epoisod of Ask an Artist Laura and Peter have the great pleasure of interviewing Sarah James.  Sarah is the driving force behind Bovey Tracey Craft Festival and various other festivals that have developed using the same format: Bath, Cheltenham Cardiff and others.  Covid-19 has made Sarah look for other ways to support the craft world that she is so passionate about and so, like others she has gone digital.  The Digital Craft Festival in the summer and again in late November endeavours to retain as much of the live feel of her festivals as possible and Sarah has had some pleasant surprises about ways that it has worked better than expected.

If you hope to make a living as an artist, even if you hope only to supplement your income, then it is a good idea to plan how you are going to market yourself by creating - oddly enough - a marketing plan!  In these peculiar times with Covid-19 raging through our society there is still a need to plan, it's just different stuff we need to plan.  Pater and Laura talk in this episode about how they have planned and about some of the things thay have done to keep moving forward.

In this episode Laura and Peter answer some more of the questions that have been sent by our listeners.  If you have a question please do send it, either via our Social Media: Instagram and Facebook: Ask An Artist Podcast, or through our website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

In this episode of Ask an Artist Peter and Laura are talking about some of the awful things that have happened during their careers as artists, things that have gone wrong for them, things that have been said and experiences that they might prefer to forget about.

As an artist or maker your primary function is to make things.  However the things you make and the things you do can often be used in ways other than just for their appreciation!  In this episode Peter and Laura talk about ways of making the most out of your output: greetings cards, teaching aids, books, videos, content for social media.
Much of what you do day to day can be incorporated into teaching or marketing in ways that you might otherwise have had to create from scratch.  It may sound a bit too business-like, but Peter and Laura both see themselves as business people, so work smart and be efficient and successful! 

Laura and Peter are both fortunate in having partners who share their creative views.  For each of them this has developed into something more though and in this episode Laura and Peter talk with Ben and Kimberley about being the other half of an art business partnership.
Ben - The Talented Mr B - is framer, photographer, video producer, carpenter, packer, delivery-man, exhibition stand builder, driver, and various other things for Laura - he is also a photographer in his own right.
Kimberley - The equally Talented Mrs K - is a teacher, an administrator, writer, book-keeper, co-owner of the Courtyard Art School, and various other things for Peter - she is also an accomplished textile artist, a qualified primary school teacher and a mother to two young children.

Peter and Laura tackle a few more listener questions: Is it OK for an artist to work across various genres or should they find their place and stick with it?  As a portrait artist should I advertise pricing on my website?  I am an artist by I'm also very shy. Can I avoid being the public face of my work?

Listen to what Peter and Laura have to say about these topics and if you have questions yourself then send them to us via our social media or through our website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

Laura and Peter have talked about teaching several times, it forms a part of both of their working lives.  However they both teach adults; people who have sought them out. Teaching children is a bit different, but maybe not as different as you might think.  Peter's wife, Kimberley is a qualified primary school teacher and in this episode she discusses the experience of teaching children and in what ways it compares to teaching grown-ups!

Time to cast the cat in among the pigeons! Laura and Peter are joined in this debate by Silversmith James Dougal and 'the Talented Mr B. (Ben Boswell) to talk about craft and art as descriptions of their work and of the way they identify themselves.
Asking 100 people what the difference is between art and craft, or what the respective values of art and craft are and you will get 100 different answers.  After recording this and listening to our four interpretations I think we all agree that a fundamental level you need both to create beautiful things and maybe the line is so blurry that we are all better off calling ourselves 'artist/craftspeople' - a more 'maker-fluid' description!

Laura and Peter have another rummage in the post bag in this episode to answer some of the listener questions we have received.  Today we have questions on working for friends, dealing with 'site specific' artworks and wether it is a good idea to work in multiple media.

In this episode, Tom and Peter discuss the somewhat illusive work-life balance; whether it is achievable as a self-employed Artist, how they manage it in their own situations and some tips which might help you to find your own.

In the first half of the episode they share their own, somewhat similar, circumstances, particularly in relation to family life, and how these can both dovetail and clash with a creative career. In the second half of the episode, they discuss what they have learnt works (and doesn't work!) and share some tips for finding the balance between work, family, finance and relationships in your own creative life.

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

In this episode of Ask an Artist Peter and Laura discuss 'Branding' - they are not trying to get you to burn symbols into your flesh, but is it a good idea to develop a brand identity?  On balance they believe it is, a consistent look and feel to your communications and interactions with your customers helps them to recognise you right from the start.

In today's episode Laura and Peter interview James Dougall whose journey into being a silversmith had a few fascinating twists and turns.  Now a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths James came to the business late after working in several other fields.  His story will hopefully give hope to many 'second career' artists!

An artist is constantly judged, it is inevitable, a part of the very nature of what they do.  However it would be wrong to assume that the judgement is only about the work that the artist produces.  Today, Peter and Laura discuss the importance of the artist's reputation: how it develops, how to look after it and how not to lose it!

Over the last months we have had some really good questions from listeners and we are going to try out this slightly different format for this episode.  Here are Laura and Peter's thoughts on 3 questions, looking at work/life balance, selling work for the first time and troublesome students!

If you have a question that you would like to submit to us then please visit www.askanartistpodcast.com 

As an artist it is very likely that, from time to time, you will be asked to do things for charity.  It could be something that you do anyway, that generates funds for a charity you wish to support, or it could be an approach from a charity asking you to do something specific.  Whatever the scenario if you are going to do work like this it needs to be taken just as seriously as for any other client.  Both Peter and Laura have done things for charity - and for charitable reasons, in this episode they talk about their attitude to this kind of work.

In todays episode Laura and Peter chat to Doug Fitch and Hannah McAndrew.  Doug and Hannah are 'Fitch and McAndrew', the husband and wife team of slipware potters whose work has a national and international standing. Working in a very traditional medium, that of earthenware clay decorated with different coloured slips (liquid clay) in rich earthy colours they manage to create a very personal style, working mainly on their own individual pieces, but sometimes collaborating their work is to be found in some of the best galleries in the UK and also as far afield as America and Japan. Peter and Laura discuss with them their generosity in sharing their working lives on Social Media, including their young family and enabling their customers to see a slice of their life.

'A Body of Work'...  One of those expressions that pops up in art contexts all the time. Laura and Peter unpick what it means.  It can be whatever you want it to be.  A group of pieces linked thematically, stylistically, chromatically, progressively or anything else.  A collection that will allow you to be assessed maybe, by a gallery or a prospective client. Certainly a way of showing your exploration of  your work - and that has to be a good thing!

Pricing your work is a complex issue and being consistent is one of the things that needs to be considered while working out your pricing.  However that does not mean that all your work should be the same price, only that it should be priced consistently, according to its value.  Small simple things clearly need to be cheaper than big complex things.  Having work in different price brackets allows you so attract a wider range of clients with varying budgets - both Laura and Peter have works at different levels when they are in selling mode!  

Part of the lives of many artists is the business of teaching.  For some it is a financial necessity and for others it is an emotional or moral imperative.  Whatever the reasons you have for teaching it does need to be taken seriously, you have an obligation to your students and doing it well can be massively rewarding.
Both Laura and Peter teach and both of them have years of positive experiences, hundreds of students who have had a great time and have gone away with a better understanding of the subject.  Isn't that something to feel warm and fuzzy about!

Given the huge interest in art and crafts most professional artists and makers will be asked from time to time to talk about their work, or to demonstrate their methods.  There is no compulsion to do this of course, you can just say no!  Peter and Laura have never been known to refuse an opportunity to get up in front of the public though, they both enjoy the experience and the benefits that talks and demos bring.  In this episode they talk about the way that they approach an event, covering planning, set-up, technology and so on.

In this episode, Tom and Peter interview Marc Jackman, master chemist and director of Jackman's Art Materials; one of the newest and best manufacturers of artist quality paints, in the UK. 

Marc started the company in 2019, creating watercolour paints to begin with, followed by gouache and acrylic. In this episode, Marc shares the story of how he got into the industry and answers our questions about what makes "good" paint, why some colours are always more expensive than others and shares some advice to help anyone who is running a small, artistic business.

For more information about Marc and Jackman's, visit their website: www.jackmansartmaterials.co.uk

This Podcast is sponsored by Rosemary & Co Brushes, Jackson’s Art Supplies and Search Press publishers.

For more information about our sponsors, please visit:

Rosemary & Co Brushes: www.rosemaryandco.com

Jackson’s Art supplies: www.jacksonsart.com

Search Press publishers: www.searchpress.com

Tom's website: tomshepherdart.com

Peter's website: peterkeegan.com

Podcast website: www.askanartistpodcast.com

If you are a teacher one of the things you hope for is that one day you will teach someone who will then go on to greater things.  Laura gave Will Francis his first lessons in Japanese woodblock printing after he had been trying to teach himself - and finding it hard.  Will is now a professional carver and printer of Japanese woodblock prints: working in collaboration with illustrator Jed Henry they produce prints of contemporary culture, but using historic techniques.  Will talks about his journey, his passion for the process and about how the current health crisis has affected his business.

The natural habitat of an artist is usually a studio: This could be a wonderful, purpose built edifice, or a corner of their sitting room, but it is a space to work and needs respect!  Today Laura and Peter talk about the places they have called their studio over the years and discuss some of the things that are important about about a creative workspace.

Tom Shepherd is a full time artist, specialising in painting wildlife  which he does in oils, acrylics and especially in watercolours.  Peter and Laura talk to him about his career-path and how he has adapted to working mainly 'on-line' during the current health crisis.  Creative adaptation to the situation seems to be the secret and like Peter and Laura Tom is busier than ever.