Ask An Artist

Ask An Artist

Professional artists Peter Keegan and Tom Shepherd discuss the practical issues of making art your career. Drawing on their own experiences they offer candid advice for artists who want to make a living from their work. Peter is a portrait painter working predominantly to commission for both private and public clients and he also teaches in-person and online. Tom is a watercolour artist with a passion for wildlife and conservation and he also teaches in-person and online. Both Tom and Peter treat their art as a business, always practicing what they preach! Throughout season 1 and 2, renowned printmaker, Laura Boswell was the co-host. Laura is a printmaker working in Linocut and Japanese woodblock, with work is in several public collections. She writes a monthly advice column for Artists and Illustrators Magazine.

Episodes

July 16, 2026 60 mins

Welcome back to the podcast! We have had a few months "off-air" and in that time we have been busy working on a new direction for the podcast.

Ask An Artist was founded in 2019, by artist friends and colleagues, Laura Boswell and Peter Keegan. In 2022, Laura stepped down as co-host to concentrate on other projects and Tom Shepherd has been keeping Peter company behind the microphone ever since. Now, 4 years on, it's time for a new c...

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For this special compilation episode of the podcast, we look back at Season 7 and share some of our favourite moments, from our most popular episodes, from the past year. 

If this compilation whets your appetite, and you would like to listen to the full episodes, they are:

Finding the Balance (ep. 6)

How do you juggle it all? Interview with Hashim Akib (ep. 3)

6 Tips for Putting on an Exhibition (ep. 10)

Interview with Claudia Kenn...

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December 11, 2025 53 mins

In this special episode of the podcast, and the final recorded one for 2025, Peter and Tom reflect on the year just gone. They discuss some of their favourite podcast guests, their favourite podcast chats and look back to the planning episode right at the start of the year, to evaluate whether some of the goals and targets they set themselves, have been achieved.

The podcast will be back on Boxing Day with a "Best Bits" compilation.

...

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November 27, 2025 42 mins

In this episode, Peter and Tom dive into something that sounds a bit grand and serious, but actually sits right at the heart of what Artists do — creating a body of work. Whilst it might sound like something that happens after twenty years and a few gallery retrospectives, really, it’s just about building a thread of consistency and intent in what you make. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, printmaker or photogr...

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November 13, 2025 51 mins

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 Instagr...

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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 ...

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In this episode, Peter interviews Artist, Sarah Jane Moon. 

Sarah Jane is a painter whose work often explores identity, sexuality and community. She’s particularly known for her portraits of queer sitters, work that combines boldness, colour and sensitivity where these works have been exhibited internationally. Her portrait of human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London, and she i...

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October 2, 2025 51 mins

In this episode, Peter and Tom invite Artist Jo Scott back to the podcast, this time, to pick her brains all about the world of art licensing.

As often discussed on the podcast, there are many ways to earn an income from your art. Jo Scott, is a brilliant example of an Artist who has a variety of income streams, one of which, is licensing her art work to be used by other companies.

In the first part of the episode, Jo explains what l...

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September 18, 2025 58 mins

In this episode, Peter and Tom interview Artist, Jo Scott. 

As business owners and creators, it is absolutely possible to put all our eggs in one or two baskets - and some Artist do this very successfully. But there is also a lot to be said for having a variety of income streams.

The guest in this episode, Jo Scott, is a brilliant example of someone who has a variety of income streams, all under the umbrella of being an Artist. ...

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September 4, 2025 50 mins

In this episode, Tom and Peter answer some of your questions. Firstly they discuss online selling strategies, followed by doing your own framing and finally, the qualities needed to become a professional Artist.

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 Podc...

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In this episode, Peter and Tom interview Mary-Anne Bartlett - brilliant artist, much-loved tutor, and founder of Art Safari.

This episode is about all things "art tutoring" and "art holidays"; the ups, the downs, what it really takes to run a successful retreat and how to find your feet if you are thinking of becoming a tutor yourself.

Because when you get it right, combining art, great people, inspiring venues, and a sense of advent...

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In this episode, Tom and Peter discuss the different options open to creatives in terms of "getting qualified". With the rise of the internet over the past couple of decades, there has been an increase in the number of certificates, diplomas, courses, workshops and even degrees available - but what does each one entail, which ones are worth their salt and which ones do the art world actually care about?

In the first half of the epis...

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July 24, 2025 37 mins

In this episode, Tom and Peter answer some of your questions. Firstly there's a question about taking payments on-the-go, followed by a question about storage solutions and finally, gallery artwork taboos.

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 i...

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In this episode Tom and Peter their top tips for putting on a show, imagining that they are planning, promoting and hosting their own solo exhibition. They condense their advice into 6 key things, which are;

1.        Planning – it’s all in the planning!

2.        Spread the word – marketing the show

3.        Find the magic – what makes your show diff...

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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 ...

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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 sen...

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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 a...

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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...

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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...

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April 10, 2025 41 mins

In this episode, Peter and Tom answer some of your questions. Firstly there's a question about pricing workshops for community groups, followed by a discussion about stretched canvas vs canvas paper, and finally, who to invite to your private view.

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 ...

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