Why it was created

Artistsdirectory.co.uk has been created because of something fundamental that was missing from the internet for all UK visual artists from current student through to known professional: A totally user friendly one central source visual directory also uniquely designed for the internet audience that matters from an artists perspectve.

It gives the public and lovers of art, gallerists, dealers, interior/exterior designers, art directors, art buyers and publishers the opportunity to effortlessly view and become aware of the work of new and established artists that are involved in particular artforms directly from the home page, and even allows them to easily find and view the work of those that specialise in specific categories of medium and/or subject matter of an artform.

It has also been designed to become a future archive and includes a unique 'search artist by signature' feature so if at anytime someone sees finds or purchases any of your work somewhere and wants to find out more about you the artist that created it, they could do so not just through your name, but if you sign your work, even through however you sign your work if legible. (See also benefits below.)

FREE REGISTRATION

This includes your own content management system and viewable 'introductory strip-profile listing' and 'main gallery/profile page', (see below.) Plus there are no fees if you are commissioned or sell work through being contacted via the directory.

(Being free, future funding is designed to come from optional 'extra gallery pages' (see below) and arts related adlinks on the home page which will in turn be used to assist costs of future enhancements and increasing publicity/awareness of the directory on all registered visual artists behalf.)

To register, all you have to do via the artist registration page is enter your name, email address, create a password of your choice and then click the continue button which takes you to a confirmation of registration and first time login page.

CREATING YOUR VIEWABLE DETAILS

Once registered, you can then log in at any time to your ' personal home page'  which is the hub of your own bespoke user friendly content management system that gives you total control in easily creating managing and updating all of your viewable work and details via your 'account steps' that include:-

'Registered personal details'. Your details as entered on the registration page.

'Artform categories'. In relation to the individual 'artform' listings and 'search art/artist by category' on the home page, you can choose and be listed in up to 3 'artforms' and also choose relevant medium and subject matter that you specialise in. (The categories you will be able to choose from are the same as the current listings as viewable via the 'search art/artist by category' button on the home page.)

'Image library'. For uploading and storing your images, adding comprehensive picture details, being able to delete images to upoad new ones, and placing/arranging and rearranging images at any time to wherever you wish them showing among your viewable details. (Images need to be in .jpg file format and not exceeding 2.5mb individual file size.)

'Strip-profile'. (See graphic below.) Plus optional 'search artist by signature' details. (See also benefits below.)

'Gallery/profile page'. (See graphic below.)

'Extra gallery pages'. These are optional and can be individually aquired at any time when logged in for a nominal fee of only £9 each to assist funding mentioned above. They are available for artists that don't have personal websites in giving them the opportunity to show as much work as they wish via the directory/internet at a fraction of the cost, and also for any artists that would like to show more work than included in registration, continuously add new work over time, or even include everything they ever create as an archive. (See also graphic below.)

BENEFITS OF BEING ON THE DIRECTORY

The internet is a fantastic medium to use in creating more widespread awareness of your work and you may already have a personal website with that in mind, but generally, apart from those that already know of your name and work, who gets to view it among the thousands of individual visual artists websites that are listed out there? How do you create more awareness of your work and personal website via the internet?

There are of course existing gallery, arts related and even business directory websites that you can also be listed on, but from the point of view of the internet audience in having the opportunity and choice in easily being able to view/browse and become aware of the work of UK visual artists in all artforms including specific categories of medium and subject matter all from one user friendly central location,...where do they go?

Artistsdirectory.co.uk attracts them to easily view that choice directly from the home page.

If you don't have a personal website, your main 'gallery/profile page' and any 'extra gallery pages' will be like having your own personal website within the directory, and you can even mention your work showing on 'artistsdirectory.co.uk' for any self promotional material. Also, the address that shows in your browser when viewing your 'gallery/profile page' is a 'link' that can be used as a portfolio to send to people.

When someone searches for a visual artist that specialises in a specific category of medium and/or subject matter of an artform that relates to work you have showing on the directory, you will appear in their search results in either the form of your 'introductory strip-profile listing', or if you are unique to their search criteria, straight to your main 'gallery/profile page'.

As already mentioned, if at anytime someone sees finds or purchases any of your work somewhere and wants to find out more about you to possibly even view that same work with more information about it, more of your work/profile etc, they have the choice of doing so by your name, or if you sign your work, even through however you sign your work if legible via the 'search artist by signature' feature, whether you sign your work in your full name, initial/s and surname, single name, surname, initials or monogram.

For example, through simply entering the characters included in however you sign your work into the 'search artist by signature' field, search results will show them your 'strip-profile' listing along with your 3rd image automatically temporarily replaced with a close up typical example image of how you sign your work as cross reference in making sure they've found the right person, and also just in case you're not the only visual artist registered at the time that signs their work using the same name or initials etc. (This is an optional feature included in free registration, and if required, adding details on how you sign your work and an example image is something that can be done at any when logged in.)

To join the directory, please see the 'artist registration' page via the button below or on the home page. Or if you would like any further information beforehand, please feel free to contact us at any time via the 'contact artisdirectory' button also on the home page.

Artistsdirectory.co.uk