Starting your own art print business from home is more achievable today than ever before. With the right tools, mindset, and professional print partner behind you, you can turn your creative passion into a thriving income stream — even from a small home studio or corner workspace.

Whether you’re a digital illustrator, traditional painter, photographer, or mixed media artist, selling prints allows you to scale your art without selling the original. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to launch and grow a profitable home-based art print business.

🎯 Why Start an Art Print Business?

There are a few key reasons why selling art prints is such an attractive model for creatives:

  • Scalable income – One piece of artwork can generate hundreds of sales

  • Lower price point = more buyers – Prints are more accessible than originals

  • Work from anywhere – All you need is a laptop and a print partner

  • Global audience – Sell worldwide without ever leaving your home

  • Passive income potential – Automate fulfilment and keep earning

It’s a great way to monetise your creativity while still staying true to your artistic style.

🧑‍🎨 Step 1: Choose Your Niche or Style

Before you start selling, define your brand and artistic voice. Ask yourself:

  • What kind of work do I enjoy creating?

  • Who is my ideal customer?

  • How do I want my art to make people feel?

Popular niches that perform well:

  • Nature, botanical, and floral art

  • Abstract minimalist prints

  • Bold typographic designs

  • Cityscapes and architecture

  • Pop culture illustrations

  • Pet portraits or personalised work

You don’t need to follow trends, but knowing your audience will help you stand out and sell more.

🖼️ Step 2: Prepare Print-Ready Artwork

Once you have your artwork, you’ll need high-resolution, print-ready files.

For Digital Artists:

  • Work at 300 DPI at the largest print size you want to sell

  • Use AdobeRGB (1998) colour profile

  • Save master files as TIFF or PSD

  • Export for print as TIFF, PDF, or high-quality JPEG

For Traditional Artists:

  • Scan at 600 DPI or photograph using professional lighting

  • Remove dust, colour correct, and crop neatly

  • Choose a paper tone and texture that complements your original medium

If you’re unsure about file setup, we’re happy to review your artwork at Giclée UK and offer advice — or provide test prints before you launch.

🖨️ Step 3: Find a Professional Print Partner

While some artists print at home, using a professional Giclée printer ensures:

  • Exceptional detail and colour accuracy

  • Archival-quality pigment inks and papers

  • Consistent results across every order

  • Option to drop-ship directly to customers

At Giclée UK, we work with independent artists, galleries, and online shops — providing white-label fulfilment and a wide selection of premium papers for every style.

Working with a trusted printer allows you to focus on your art and customers, not maintenance and ink cartridges.

🛍️ Step 4: Set Up Your Online Store

There are two common routes:

1. Sell on a Platform

  • Etsy, Folksy, or INPRNT

  • Fast to set up

  • Built-in audience

  • Great for beginners

2. Build Your Own Website

  • Use WordPress + WooCommerce, Shopify, or Squarespace

  • More professional and scalable

  • No platform fees

  • Fully branded experience

If you’re in this for the long term, building your own site is a smart move. You control your brand, your pricing, and your customer experience.

We can also help integrate a WooCommerce order system into your site so that orders are sent straight to our studio for printing and fulfilment.

📐 Step 5: Decide What to Sell

Keep it simple when starting out. Offer a curated selection of:

  • 3 to 5 designs

  • 2 or 3 sizes (e.g. A4, A3, A2)

  • Printed on a high-quality, standard paper (e.g. Hahnemühle Photo Rag)

You can always expand your range later based on customer feedback and demand.

Offer framing guidance, but avoid including frames unless you can handle the logistics — shipping framed art adds complexity.

💸 Step 6: Price Your Prints for Profit

Here’s a simple formula to start with:

(Cost of printing + packaging + shipping + your time) x markup = sale price

Typical markups for prints:

  • Open edition: 2.5x – 4x cost

  • Limited edition: 4x – 6x cost (sometimes more)

Factor in platform fees, taxes, and handling time.

Don’t undersell yourself — prints are a luxury product. Professional presentation and story-telling can justify premium pricing.

📦 Step 7: Plan for Fulfilment

When an order comes in, you have three options:

1. Self-Fulfilment

  • Print at home or order from your print partner

  • Package and ship yourself

  • More hands-on, good for small volumes

2. Batch Printing

  • Print multiple copies in advance

  • Keep in stock and ship as orders arrive

  • Requires space and careful storage

3. On-Demand Fulfilment (Drop-Shipping)

  • Orders sent directly to your print partner

  • They print, pack, and ship under your brand

  • Ideal for scaling and stress-free management

At Giclée UK, we offer drop-shipping with:

  • Plain or branded packaging

  • Custom inserts (thank-you cards, promo flyers)

  • Shipping to UK and international customers

📣 Step 8: Promote Your Prints

Even the best prints won’t sell if no one sees them.

Use social media, email marketing, and word of mouth to build buzz. Here are a few ideas:

  • Share your creative process (timelapses, sketches)

  • Post behind-the-scenes packaging or print photos

  • Offer limited edition launches

  • Run seasonal promotions (e.g., Valentine’s Day, Christmas)

  • Build an email list with a discount incentive

Tip: Start with Instagram and Pinterest — both are highly visual platforms ideal for artists.

🧠 Final Tips for Success

  • Start small, stay consistent

  • Build your brand and trust before trying to scale

  • Focus on quality and customer service

  • Track what sells well and double down

  • Ask your customers for feedback and reviews

  • Invest in your presentation — how it arrives is just as important as what it is

🚀 Ready to Launch Your Art Print Business?

At Giclée UK, we make it easy for artists to launch and scale their print business with confidence.

We offer:

  • Colour-accurate Giclée printing

  • A wide selection of fine art and photo papers

  • White-label drop-shipping

  • Friendly support and file checking

Whether you’re just starting out or levelling up your existing shop, we’re here to help bring your vision to life — one print at a time.

Have questions or want help getting started?
Drop us a message at info@gicleeuk.com — we’d love to chat.