Agent's commission?

[joe1]

I am a working artist specialising in interior design paintings. I have been approached by an agent who wishes to sell my work on a commission basis, but have no idea of the going rate in UK.

Can anyone advise please.

Thank you

[lilyfrog]

What is he offering?? It varied hugely but if you go on the Artists Newsletter website they should be able to help. You will probably be looking at 25% ish

[gary baldy]

25%!?!?! Are you sure? If they have approached you, you must be quite good so thats put you in a good position. Start low at around 10% and they will obviously want more. Between 15 and 20% is fair enough - try a sliding scale and promise to renegotiate the more work they get you.

[Narolines]

20-30% doesn't sound unlikely to me - in fact in a lot of British galleries that would be generous. But are we talking an agent who promises to place your work in galleries, or who is going to sell direct? If it's a 3rd party who's going to charge you for his/her services, then I would have thought 15% would be top whack - you are, after all, being ripped off twice over, once by your agent and again by the gallery owner. If, on the other hand, it's a person who's going to sell directly, then 30% isn't out of the way. Either way up, the poor old artist is the one who comes off worst.......