Picture this—a beautiful, inspiring, and completely free studio space nestled

the charming Prema Art Centre in Uley

Yesterday, we had a fantastic day interviewing talented artists for Prema's exciting 18-month residency program. Picture this—a beautiful, inspiring, and completely free studio space nestled within the charming Prema Art Centre in Uley, a unique converted chapel that's accessible 24 hours a day for the full 18 months . This incredible opportunity especially resonates with women who have caring commitments, offering them the rare chance to focus deeply on their creative work without needing to constantly travel for shorter, more demanding residencies. I’m already eight months into my own residency, and honestly, it’s flown by!

Prema (pronounced Prayma)

is a Sanskrit word meaning "selflessness, sharing and forward". The concept of Prema was started back in 1977 by the Centre's originator Andrew Wood and "Prema Project" opened its doors for the first time in January 1981 after many years of fundraising and building work. here we are celebrating pauls birthday a few day into my time in the studio

Reflecting on these interviews got me thinking deeply about my own creative journey as a picture book illustrator and publisher of tiny greeting cards, a career that's evolved alongside my life as a mother to Wolfgang—who's now almost four! Before Wolfgang was born and when he was very small, daily creative play was an essential and joyful part of my life. Each day, I carved out time for sketching, playful drawing, and exploring fresh ideas freely and without pressure.

Arches watercolour paper and Prismacolor wax pencils

Here's a little sketch I did of Wolfgang in his mama owl boiled wool onesie, running off to live with the fairies. I used rough watercolour paper and Prismacolor wax pencils. I'd love to build this idea out into a book

However, life has become incredibly busy lately—with six house moves, a demanding two-hour daily commute, teaching professional illustration practice at the University of Gloucester, attending weekend art markets, craft fairs, and comic conventions, as well as managing wholesale and direct-to-customer orders from my online shop. Combined with my precious midweek days with Wolfgang, it's easy to feel stretched thin, creatively burnt out, and frustrated. Can you relate? I’d love to know if others are feeling this way too, or if it’s just me!

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I've realized something important: I can't keep going at this pace without losing the magic and joy of creativity. I have 12 valuable months remaining in this residency, and I'm determined not to waste them feeling scattered and overwhelmed. Starting this September, when Wolfgang begins school, I’ll be dedicating every Tuesday to reconnecting with creativity, exploration, and playful art-making. I'd genuinely love your company on this creative journey! If you're interested in joining me, providing mutual accountability, and sharing creative feedback, please reach out. I’ll be setting up a mailing list soon to share updates and ideas, so let me know if you'd like to be included—you won't want to miss what's coming next!

Getting set up for my in-person illustration workshops at Prema in Uley, Gloucestershire — such a lovely space to teach in!

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The Best In-Person Markets for UK Illustrators

When I moved back to the UK after six years in Vancouver, I set out on a journey to become a full-time illustrator.

A pop-up in Anthropologie Cheltenham

In Vancouver, craft markets were thriving, and they seemed like a fantastic way to meet customers and establish my illustration business. However, when I returned to the UK, I quickly realized the landscape was very different. There wasn’t much information available about which markets actually worked for illustrators.

I booked into a variety of markets, only to find that many required a 5 AM start in a drafty hall or a sun-drenched glass atrium with 100 other stallholders—but no customers. I was also unlucky enough to be scammed by a booking company in January, which disappeared with my stall fee. Please don’t fall into the same trap.

I’ll be honest—I was naïve, overly eager, and not very business-savvy at the time. I wanted my business to work so badly, but I had rushed in without proper research, and I was failing. The number of markets we booked in our first year was exhausting, both mentally and financially. Despite all the effort, we barely broke even.

It didn’t make sense. I was working with international publishers during the week, selling wholesale to a few clients, and yet, my market stalls weren’t profitable. Then it hit me—I had been targeting the wrong markets. These weren’t art-focused events. The people attending weren’t looking for illustration or high-quality prints. They wanted something different.

I don’t want anyone else to go through the same struggle. With the right support from other illustrators and artists, I managed to turn things around. I went from making - £60 at my first markets to earning £3,000 in a single weekend.Illustration & Art-Focused Markets That Work

These are the markets that truly bring in foot traffic for illustrators and artists. Join their mailing lists to get the best information on when to apply. Many of these events are highly competitive, so if you don’t get in, keep trying! They curate their makers carefully, and even the best artists don’t always get accepted every time.

The Chistmas Market Jemma Jamie skidmore

The Very Best Art and Carft In person Markets for Illustrators in the UK

London & South East

• The Illustrators’ Fair – Held twice a year (King’s Cross, Spring & Christmas)

• MCM Comic Con (Birmingham & London) – A great place for pop culture-inspired artwork

• The London Illustration Fair

• DIY Art Market – Amazing mixed-market for makers and artists

• Crafty Fox Market – A great mixed-market for artists and makers

• Pexmas (London) – Peckham-based artists and makers market

• Salad Days Market – Iconic London makers and artists market

• The Lookout – Illustrators’ Fair (Cambridge) – A great showcase of illustration talent (I haven’t been yet, but it looks amazing!)

• The Nutshell – Winchester Xmas Gift Fair – Another hidden gem for artists and illustrators

Midlands & South West

• Made in Bristol – An amazing Christmas market with excellent footfall

• Fine Line Print & Illustration Festival – A small but growing event presented by the University of Gloucestershire (currently free to table!)

• Prema Art Market – A hidden gem if you're local

• Compton Verney Christmas Market – Now accepting submissions; set within the UK's biggest folk art collection

• Shake Bristol – A top choice for illustration and artist markets

• Frome Independent Market

• Makers Yard Somerset

• Paper Dolls Market – A mixed-makers market in Birmingham

• CKMY Festive (Herefordshire) – Illustrator-run event by Hereford School of Art

• Blue Moon Market – A growing mixed-market for artists and makers in Moseley

The North & Beyond

• Thought Bubble (Harrogate) – Perfect for comic and illustration-based work

• Endless Love Creative Market – Edinburgh, Sheffield, and Newcastle

• Liverpool Print Fair

• The Hepworth Wakefield Print Fair

Wales & Ireland

I don’t have as much information on great illustration-focused markets in Wales or Ireland, but I’d love to hear from anyone who does! If you know of any fantastic markets for illustrators in these regions, please reach out, and I’ll add them to this list.

Nationwide

• Craft & Flea – Book three months in advance; held all over the country, strong footfall

Other Selling Opportunities

• Find your own space! – Do pop-ups in shops or cafés that align with your style and customer base

• Don’t overlook curated markets! – If you think you’re a good fit, send the organizers an email. They might consider you next time (I’d love a stand with Bloomsbury Jamboree!)

• Local fairs can be great in the run-up to Christmas. Building a local network helps you find people in your area who love what you do.

• Consider backup markets at Christmas. If you don’t get into your top-choice markets, have alternatives lined up. You can always bring in help if you get accepted to more than one!

Want to Add to This List?

If you know of any fantastic illustration-friendly markets in the UK, Wales, or Ireland, please let me know, and I will add them to this list. Let’s support each other in finding the best places to sell our work!