Sell art & prints online in the UK. For free.

A free UK-based shop for independent artists, illustrators and photographers — Printful print on demand, VAT margin scheme for originals, Royal Mail Tracked shipping, alongside Etsy UK, ArtFinder or on its own.

Open My Free Art Shop

Where UK artists actually sell

The UK independent art scene lives across several platforms — each with a different cut and a different audience:

Etsy UK: dominant for prints, small originals, illustrations. 6.5% transaction + 4% processing + variable offsite ads (up to 15%).

ArtFinder: UK-based specialist marketplace for original art. 35% commission but curated, higher AOV.

Society6 / Redbubble: print-on-demand marketplaces — you upload, they print, you get 10–30% margin.

Instagram & TikTok: where discovery actually happens for artists now. Link in bio to your Freewebstore.

Your Freewebstore: keep the full margin, own the customer list, run limited-edition drops on your own schedule — not the marketplace’s.

Open My Free Art Shop

Printful — print on demand, built in

Connect your Printful account on Startup, Pro or Ridge and sell your artwork as posters, framed posters, canvas and merchandise. Add the products to your shop in a few clicks; when a buyer orders, Printful prints and posts it.

You hold no stock. Printful bills you for each item and its shipping; you set the retail price, and we add no fee or markup to what Printful charges. How Printful works with Freewebstore.

Alternative: hold your own limited-edition prints and ship yourself — more work, more margin, more control.

Or run both: originals in limited runs from your studio; open-edition prints via Printful. Freewebstore handles both product types cleanly in the same shop.

Everything a UK artist shop needs

Limited-edition drops

Product Options + stock limits let you run “25 prints only” drops that automatically go out-of-stock when they sell through. Displays “3 of 25 remaining” on the product page. Discount codes for your Instagram list on launch day.

VAT Margin Scheme for originals

If you’re VAT-registered and selling your own original artworks, HMRC’s VAT Margin Scheme lets you charge VAT only on your margin rather than the whole sale price. Freewebstore lets you configure VAT per product — so originals apply the margin scheme and prints stay standard 20%.

Royal Mail Tracked + tube shipping

A4 prints ship as Royal Mail Tracked 48 Large Letter (~£2). Larger prints go in a postal tube via Royal Mail Tracked Small Parcel. Framed pieces via DPD. Freewebstore sets shipping by weight and dimensions band.

Frequently asked questions about selling art online in the UK

Where do UK artists actually sell art and prints online? +
Etsy UK is dominant for prints and small originals (6.5% + offsite ads). ArtFinder is a UK-based specialist for original art (35% commission but curated audience). Society6/Redbubble sit at the print-on-demand end. Instagram/TikTok are where discovery happens. Own site keeps the full margin. Most established UK artists run their own shop plus Etsy.
Do I need a print-on-demand service like Printful? +
Only if you don’t want to hold stock. Printful connects to Freewebstore on paid plans (Startup, Pro and Ridge): design posters, framed posters, canvas and merchandise in your Printful account, add them to your shop, and Printful prints and posts each order. Alternative: hold your own limited-edition stock and ship yourself — higher margin, more work.
How does VAT work on art in the UK? +
Standard 20% VAT on prints, giclees and merchandise (once you’re VAT-registered above £90,000). Original artworks by the artist can qualify for the VAT Margin Scheme, meaning VAT is only charged on your profit margin rather than the full sale price. HMRC VAT Notice 718 sets out the rules.
How should I ship prints and originals in the UK? +
Prints under A4 ship as Royal Mail Tracked 48 Large Letter (~£2). Prints A3+ or framed need Royal Mail Tracked 48 Parcel (£5–£8). Original canvases and large framed pieces go via DPD or Parcelforce with proper cardboard protection.
Can I sell prints on Etsy AND my own shop? +
Yes. Cross-listing is standard for UK artists. Etsy’s terms let you sell the same work elsewhere. Etsy for discovery, your own Freewebstore for repeat buyers. Every parcel goes out with a card offering a discount for your site. Your effective platform fee blends down from 15%+ towards 5%.
Is Freewebstore a UK company? +
Yes. Freewebstore Ltd is registered in England (Company Number 06713528) and has traded since 2007. Support is UK-based. Customer data stays in EU/UK data centres.
Open My Free Art Shop

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