Welcome to the VAA

The value of VAA membership has never been greater – from enhanced sales opportunities and a wider global community to access to the latest professional insights, guidance and marketing technologies. We support our members with: insurance (up to £10m), networks, events, training, advice and mentoring.

Artist Insurance

At the VAA we empower artists to pursue their careers with confidence. That’s why we provide artist insurance that’s crafted to meet the needs of working artists in the UK. Protect your practice against legal liability. PPL provides cover against claims for injury to third parties or damage to third party property resulting from your artist activities.

Mentorship

The VAA’s tailored mentorship programme offers expert guidance on key areas such as Career Coaching, Critical Feedback, Marketing Insights, Pricing, Selling, and Exhibiting. Our experienced mentors use their extensive knowledge of the art industry to give you the clarity and direction you need to succeed.

We also offer our weekly VAA Accountability Circle programme, designed to help artists stay accountable for their goals, inspire their community, and celebrate their wins, within a supportive artist-led community.

Online Events

The VAA runs a variety of online events for both members & non-members. From 1-hour Masterclasses, to regular Free Art Cafes, to Members Meetings, Weekly Catch-ups and more.

Find out what we have coming up by visiting our Event Calendar today.

Short Courses

The VAA offers a variety of Online Short Courses for Members, covering a range of topics over 4 Weeks worth of 1-Hour sessions or on-demand. We are also pleased to offer our short intensive half-day Bootcamps, covering Art Sales, Artwork Licensing, and Instagram.

Explore our courses, and see which ones may be right for you, today.

Art Prizes

The VAA presently runs two Art Prizes throughout the year: our Artist of the Year Awards, and the VAA Art100 International.

We are also a partner of the Visual Art Open Awards.

Find out more about our open prizes, and how to apply.

Artist Opportunities

The VAA keeps its members & community up to date with the latest opportunities from the world of art.

View Our Latest Opportunities

Protect Your Business

Public + Products Liability Insurance (£10 Million) is included in our UK Memberships. This means our members feel protected with quality artist insurance.

Professional Support

Answering the age-old question, ‘how to sell art’. Our artists have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, galleries, and publishers.

A Library of Knowledge

Our artists reach new levels with our frequently updating range of resources, training programs, and webinars. Join today for the chance to transform your career.

VAO26 Finalist Exhibition Weekend Ticket

We’re delighted to present the Visual Art Open 2026 Finalists Exhibition, taking place at the iconic Minster Building in London from Friday 9th-Sunday 11th October 2026. Following an exceptional response from artists across the UK and around the world, our judges have selected an outstanding group of Finalists whose work will be presented as part of this year’s exhibition.

The exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to discover new contemporary artists, view the finalist artworks in person and enjoy a programme of talks and events throughout the weekend.

View Full Events Schedule & Book Tickets

Could you be one of the most promising artists worldwide?

VAA Art100 International celebrates 100 of the most promising and visionary artists from around the globe, offering international recognition, professional development and career-accelerating opportunities. Whether you’re emerging or established, this is an opportunity to raise your profile, connect with the international art world and access valuable support to help take your career to the next level.

Selected artists will benefit from exclusive professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities, with 100 winners receiving inclusion in the VAA Art100 Industry Book, consideration for the VAA Art100 International Auction, additional online profiling and an achievement certificate. Applications close 24th September 2026.

Find Out More & Apply Now

(Existing VAA Members can get a FREE copy of their own by accessing the PDF in the ‘Vault’ section of the VAA Website. If you do not recieve a link to download the guide after joining as a new member, you can also navigate to the ‘Vault’ to retrieve your copy.)

VAA Congratulates Winners of RSA New Contemporaries 2025

by Visual Artists Association | Mar 26, 2025

On Friday, 21st March, VAA Director Laura O’Hare had the pleasure of attending the RSA New Contemporaries 2025 to judge the prestigious New Artist Award, proudly sponsored by the VAA. As Scotland’s largest and most prolific platform for showcasing emerging talent from...

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Insurance For Artists

by Laura O’Hare | Oct 17, 2019

In this article I will explore what kinds of insurance are available to Artists and what insurance product might be right for you.
Assess how you work – What insurance you require as a practicing Artist depends upon how you personally work. This will depend on what assets you may have – materials and premises, where you work – studio, home, separate premises, whether you allow the general public access to your private spaces, what potential liabilities might arise in a professional or public capacity. As much as we don’t want to dwell on “what might happen” and the likelihood of anything catastrophic occurring, it is worth seriously considering as an Artist what insurance is available to you.

Four New Categories Announced for the VAA Artist of the Year 2025 Award

by Visual Artists Association | Apr 11, 2025

Exciting news for artists! Here at the Visual Artists Association we've just announced four brand-new categories for the prestigious Artist of the Year 2025 Prize. These new categories will provide even more opportunities for all artists to showcase their talent...

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What VAA members had to say…

I have really benefited from the insight VAA has given me, since joining as a member. Offering me my first chance to exhibit in London was great for me. Learning from the many well experienced members of their team about all that goes into becoming a practicing artist, has been so valuable.

Calder Mackay

25. February, 2026.

I have found my membership with the Visual Artists Association to be incredibly helpful at this stage of my career. I completed the Getting Gallery Ready course, which gave me practical guidance and clarity on how to approach the art world more strategically. One of the most valuable takeaways was learning how to identify and apply to galleries that align with my artistic style and background, rather than submitting to a large number without direction. The VAA community has also helped me connect with other artists navigating similar paths, which has been both encouraging and informative. I’ve recently signed up for a Help Desk session in March and am looking forward to receiving further guidance as I continue developing my practice. Art Launch sounds like an incredibly helpful initiative for artists like me at this point in our careers, offering support and access to valuable resources. Shortly after completing the course, I was selected for a single-artist residency at Vasl Arts Association in Karachi. I just had my first Solo exhibition there this week!

Shiza Saqib

25. February, 2026.

Visual Artists Association membership has been incredibly helpful to me, especially as I have only recently completed my course at university and it is my first time being out of education. VAA gave me stability and accountability throughout the start of this journey into the 'real world' of being an artist by providing multiple guidance and advice sessions, allowing me to learn about the art business side of things with fantastic 1-1s with Shirley-Ann and a great Art and Curation management course that helped me understand gallery communications as well as curation styles and so much more. Overall VAA has been a great and consistent support throughout this time and I couldn't recommend them more.

Kirsty MacDonald

25. February, 2026.

I have to thank everyone who visited and supported me at my studio exhibition for OpenSpaces 2025. A huge thanks to the VAA for creating an opportunity that brought artists and communities together. Seeing people connect with the pieces - asking questions, bringing their own stories, and simply taking time to look was really special. It reminded me how art brings people together in unexpected and meaningful ways.

Alison Johnston

20. January, 2026.

I had such a great turnout for my OpenSpaces 2025 exhibition, and sold 8 pieces!

Melanie Winning

20. January, 2026.

For myself, doing OpenSpaces 2025 has been amazing, I cannot believe how many venues got involved. After attending my first support session for artists involved in OpenSpaces, I realised I could get other venues involved. If you get the opportunity to do the next OpenSpaces, my advice is to make the most of the support provided by the VAA, particularly the social media templates and suggestions, it really helped.

Ruth Breen

20. January, 2026.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and left feeling inspired to put the various suggestions into practice

Deborah Crofts

16. December, 2025.

This session completely changed the way I think about gallery representation. I used to feel intimidated, but now I understand how to position myself professionally and build real relationships with galleries. It’s given me both clarity and confidence

Alison

16. December, 2025.

I thought it was really interesting, especially as I’m someone who has been wary of approaching galleries. It was great to hear and understand their side of things.

Mary H

16. December, 2025.

The portfolio review with VAA has had a tremendous impact on my year . It gave me a frank assessment of my work and pointed out what steps to take immediately to get closer to my goals . Karen Van Hoey Smith's time was gold dust and worth every penny.

Within three weeks of putting up a decent website I sold two big prints and two weeks later I was invited by an international art agent to exhibit my figurative work (1 piece only ) at a New York cultural show celebrating 400 years of figurative paintings which made my Soul Sing! In less than 3 weeks I'll be there exhibiting next to works of artists such as Rembrandt, Chagall and Picasso , this is a huge experience for me and I will be flying to NYC to enjoy the opening. I dreamt all my life about something like this! To now be in Manhattan with my work up on a wall I can now see that dreams can manifest but they can take a long time and believing in one’s art and not giving up is an important part of it all .

What the review and website has done for me is immeasurable. I have had huge creative period and never worked harder, Karen was quite frank to say it’s going to be hard work. I couldn’t recommend the Portfolio Review more to any one who is after serious and truthful advice without sugar coating! It’s practical advice on what is missing and the important elements of professional portfolio and website .

Picking up the phone in December 24 and asking for a portfolio review was the best decision I made no more doubts and blindfold approach . VAA support and guidance this year has been my beacon of light and I shall always be grateful for the amount of effort put into helping their members to succeed.

Yasmine Shimi

1. September, 2025.

I had three sessions with Karen, and each one was truly inspiring. She is extremely knowledgeable, approachable, and made me feel completely at ease. Karen has an incredible gift for mentoring—sharing insightful guidance and practical ideas on how to move forward in my art journey. I couldn’t wish for a better speaker and mentor, and I’m deeply grateful for the encouragement and clarity she has given me.

Krystyna Byrne

1. September, 2025.

Wonderful organisation. I learn so much from the regular free webinars. I’m currently being mentored by Karen Van Hoey Smith who is excellent! Well worth joining.

Geoff Langan

19. August, 2025.

I have done many courses with the VAA; all of them constructive, fun and interesting. I've learnt alot from them, and grown. They treat everybody as a special individual, and are willing to reach out and help when needed.

Lou

23. July, 2025.

Every minute spent with the VAA is valuable and rewarding!

I have just participated in The Mentor Hour - A Live Q&A session with VAA Artist Mentors. What an amazing hour! Hosted by Louise Minnaar and with guest artist Karen van Hoey Smith. I learned so much about so many aspects of being an emerging artist. Following on from the super-instructive session with Carlo Savos, I have photographed my art and sold one! I followed Karen's advice on how to pack and present it to my client and that certainly had a big impact. The co-founder Shirley Ann O'Neill has helped enormously at each stage of my art journey and now I am following their advice and going to host my own art show!! I am learning so much. Every minute spent with VAA is valuable and rewarding! Thank you everyone!

Suzanne

16. July, 2025.

The Art Curation Short Course was incredibly useful for me as an artist and as the chair of an art association. So many fantastic ideas to improve exhibitions. I would definitely recommend VAA for courses and I will be joining as a member soon

Megan Toplass

16. July, 2025.

The Artist's Coaching Circle is an overview of making art and the ways to showcase and sell. Informal, valuable, and an innovative experience.

Suzi Berwick

16. July, 2025.

In the Artist’s coaching circle, Karen was very willing to offer guidance on finding my niche. Over the four weeks it has allowed me to develop my statement and voice as an artist.

Kalib Bryan-Gaumer

16. July, 2025.

I didn't know how to start pricing my work until ArtLaunch guided me step-by-step.

James T.

Mixed Media Artist

ArtLaunch gave me the confidence to approach galleries and show my work professionally.

Lana R

Fine Art Graduate

I would definitely recommend Emma's Funding Advice. She was able to clarify what would be needed to make funding success more likely, add new areas to think about to build my proposal and give link for further exploration. I have lots to think about as a result.

Anonymous

22. April, 2025.

My two meetings with Karen van Hoey for portfolio review was priceless and way above my expectations. Her honest guidelines , analysis of my work and how to push along has ignited a massive spark a very exciting time … The support team at VAA also are a massive back up and support I am most grateful to the organisation

Yasmine Shimi

25. March, 2025.

Karen is so vibrant and a wealth of information that she generously shares with everyone. She is all-inclusive and has an avalanche of ideas for every person. Her passion and enthusiasm are truly contagious, making every interaction with her a joy. She goes above and beyond to ensure everyone feels valued and inspired. If you're looking for someone who brings knowledge, creativity, and positivity to the table, Karen is the one! Highly recommend!

Bobbye C

6. February, 2025.

Solid, informed advice for artists at all stages of their careers. The genuine wanting to help artists navigate their way to a place they want to be, is reassuring. It feels like the members of VAA really care.

Nicola Powys

23. January, 2025.

Membership of the VAA has been a game-changer for me. It's opened access to the art world through the online advice and access to resources, which is phenomenal,. The top-notch webinar training is amazing, then of course there's the £5 million product and public liability insurance included in the membership fee!

9. October, 2024.

Really positive, upbeat and encouraging portfolio review with Karen. Learnt so many things in this hour that I am now starting to implement. Would highly recommend.

Alison Whateley

7. October, 2024.

I have been with VAA (Visual-Artists.org) for 2 years, and it has truly been a game-changer for my career as an artist. The platform is incredibly supportive, offering a wealth of resources and opportunities that help artists thrive in the competitive art world. From helpful webinars and tutorials to insightful advice on marketing and business strategies, VAA covers all the essentials needed to navigate the industry successfully. One of the best aspects is the supportive community of artists. It's refreshing to be part of a network where everyone is eager to share knowledge and encourage one another. Over the past two years, the mentoring program has been an invaluable source of guidance for me. VAA also offers exposure opportunities that help get your work noticed, which is crucial for independent artists. The platform is well-organized, easy to use, and updated regularly with the latest industry news and opportunities. Overall, my experience with VAA over the last two years has helped me grow both artistically and professionally, and I highly recommend it to anyone serious about advancing their career.

Andrea

4. October, 2024.

Fantastic first impression of the VAA; I required Insurance for my art practice and was delighted to discover that they offered not only this, but membership with creative, career-related benefits in addition! Made my day! Thank you to the professional team for their guidance.

Sarah Rawlins

3. October, 2024.

Just a huge thank you for organising the zoom talk with Rosalind Davis. It was very helpful and I could listen to her for hours. She is inspiring and talks with us not down to us! It seems to me that this is one of the best things to come out of the pandemic. It has opened the door to a treasury of information and a means of introduction to wonderful artists, curators and mentors are never so directly available before. Artists working in isolation - not anymore. A lifelong means of learning absolutely. I also want to say thank you for showing my work in the VAA International Online Exhibition 2021. It is such a privilege to be part of it and I appreciate all the hard work that goes on behind the scene.

Michele Noble

3. July, 2024.

It was a friend of mine who recommended you. He’s an abstract artist like myself. He said he finds your help and working with him on a one to one basis invaluable for selling and guidance and support.

Simon Dredge

3. July, 2024.

Just want to say a big thank you for the 1:1! It’s exactly what I needed. I feel like I have some real direction now and clear, practical things to work on. Really appreciate it.

Freya Rider

3. July, 2024.

I joined the VAA as I exhibited last year at CAF, and needed insurance ... since then the support I’ve had, the mentoring, the art cafes, the webinars and the networking have been invaluable for the fee charged. My main contact is Shirley-Ann O’Neil. Not only is she unbelievably supportive to me as an individual Artist, but is also offering huge support for a week long exhibition in London next June that I’m organising with two other abstract artists who are also VAA members.

Alan Yaffe

3. July, 2024.

I have found the networking aspects and the advice given from such a wide range of artists to be invaluable. Considering I do acrylic paintings, or watercolours on occasion, the advice I find from sculpturists or mixed media users, like people I never would have thought to ask for help, is so good and does help me feel passionate about what I do and enjoy it more and more.

Iain Perry

3. July, 2024.

Knowing that the VAA team is there to offer valuable advice and support to artists, who can often feel as though they’re treading a lonely path, is fantastic! To have the VAA walking that path alongside me is so reassuring. They genuinely care and actively help, wanting artists to be successful and they work hard to make that happen. They’re very friendly, professional and easy to talk to. It’s a brilliant organisation!

Susie Hall

3. July, 2024.

The most helpful aspect of being part of the VAA has been the practical advice, the resources on the website, and the connection with others that it offers. It feels very supportive, like someone’s got your back!

Samantha Clarke

3. July, 2024.

I took your advice and already it's paid off ! I couldn't wait to tell you, I sent a gallery a direct message ... they soon after liked three of my images on Instagram. Thank you.

Ursula Starr

3. July, 2024.

I took your advice and increased a few of my pieces above $3000 and I sold one within two days to a collector in Germany. Thank you so much!! I’m so overjoyed.

Sumali Piyatissa

3. July, 2024.

Would I recommend this course to others? Absolutely. I think joining the VAA is one of the best things I have done for my business and I recommend it and the courses you run all the time!

Carol Burns

3. July, 2024.

The course got me thinking about how I can help a potential buyer/customer to see the painting in their own home/office etc. and is making me feel more comfortable about the idea of 'selling', which in the past, has left me feeling like I would rather hide under the nearest table than try to sell something. These were such helpful areas to learn about. Clarifying your own discount terms is very useful, but learning how to re-frame objections and turn them into positives, how awesome. I'm looking forward to trying it out. And of course, learning how to counteroffer and close (and shut up) was just as helpful. Karen is so enthusiastic, just listening to her makes me want to go out and sell something!

Anetta Price

3. July, 2024.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and would recommend any artist to sell their work. It's been the best short course I have been on. Many of the skills I have learnt are transferable to other areas of my business. Thank you to all the team for me.

Karen Holt

3. July, 2024.

I really enjoyed the portfolio review. It gave me a useful external perspective on my work. It was a lively broad-ranging discussion. I took a lot of notes but I haven't had time to work through them yet. I enjoy being part of the VAA, the online meetings are useful and interesting, the insurance is very good, and the helpdesk is outstanding.

Juli Fejer

3. July, 2024.

Did the programme meet your expectations?

More than met! Great amount of information and expertise shared by Karen in a fun way. I have a lot to work on! The supporting documents and guides plus the group who joined made this an amazing course.

What would you like to have more of?

Momentum 1 year on course?? I cant think of anything the course could cover more on in the time, it was thorough and overwhelming with information, in a good way!

How likely are you to recommend the VAA to others?

Already have! Really enjoying being a member of VAA, the team of expertise, the support, the courses, the guides and looking forward to the mentoring programme.

Mel Wyatt

3. July, 2024.

Karen's mentorship has been instrumental in sharpening my skills and deepening my understanding of the art world. Her tailored advice, rooted in extensive experience, has not only enhanced my technical abilities but also my confidence as an artist. I am particularly appreciative of the personal attention she dedicated to addressing my unique challenges and goals. Investing in this programme has been a transformative experience, the reward I received was beyond expectations and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone serious about advancing their art career.

Yang Xu

3. July, 2024.

Karen's super quick brain and creativity thought of avenues and solutions that I hadn't considered. The whole programme, portfolio review/momentum and now mentoring has turned the business side of things up a notch. I feel empowered and more confident knowing that I have the resources of the VAA behind me and I'm excited for the next 12 months. Watch this space!

Jane Wilson

3. July, 2024.

If you are considering the Mentorship Program and wondering if it is worth the investment, I can emphatically say that it is. The VAA Mentorship Program has given me the tools I needed to move my art career forward. With the help of this program, I have had as many shows in the first quarter of this year as I had in the entire previous year. With a better understanding of how to plan and execute my goals, I have, for the first time, booked my entire year with shows and other opportunities. This program is well worth the time and investment, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

Carlo Savo

3. July, 2024.

I started my mentoring with Karen Van Hoey Smith with a six month programme and kept renewing my sessions for over a year now. Karen's outside-the-box thinking has given me some fantastic ideas for my art career. She’s helped me develop a solid strategy and laid out a clear step-by-step process to reach my goals. Her support has been both inspiring and incredibly helpful.

Pavlina Vagioni

3. July, 2024.

I joined the VAA earlier this year and have benefitted so much from their help and support. From fantastically informative webinars to opportunities and vital information it has been the most inspirational and motivational boost I needed for developing my arts practice. Most recently I attended a webinar on Crowdfunding; such a useful insight with really knowledgeable and approachable speakers. Highly recommended.

Deborah Crofts

24. June, 2023.