ARTIST AGREEMENT
Last Updated: 6 October 2026
1. About This Agreement
Welcome to Art is Lit.
This Artist Agreement (“Agreement”) sets out the terms that apply to individuals, businesses, galleries, collectives, charities, organisations and other approved entities that sell through the Art is Lit marketplace.
Art is Lit is an online marketplace connecting independent Artists and creative businesses with Buyers who value originality, creativity and craftsmanship.
This Agreement should be read together with our Terms & Conditions, Returns & Refunds Policy, Shipping Policy, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy, Acceptable Use Policy and other applicable marketplace policies.
By applying to become an Artist, operating an Artist Shop, creating listings or accepting orders through Art is Lit, you agree to comply with this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement excludes or restricts rights or obligations that cannot legally be excluded.
2. Definitions
For this Agreement:
Artist means an approved individual or organisation selling Artwork or eligible creative products through Art is Lit.
Artist Shop means the Artist’s selling area on the Platform.
Artwork includes original, handmade, limited-edition, open-edition, photographic, digital, commissioned, personalised and other approved creative works.
Buyer means a person or organisation purchasing or attempting to purchase through Art is Lit.
Commission means the marketplace commission charged by Art is Lit.
Delivery Charge means an amount charged to the Buyer for delivery or shipping separately from the Artwork price.
Digital Product means Artwork or creative content supplied electronically.
Platform means the Art is Lit website and related marketplace services.
Payment Provider means an authorised third-party provider used to process payments and/or Artist payouts.
Payout means money payable to an Artist in connection with marketplace sales.
48-hour Buyer Inspection Period means Art is Lit’s reporting period beginning when the courier or delivery provider records a physical order as delivered.
3. Artist Eligibility and Approval
Registration as a user does not automatically give a person the right to sell through Art is Lit.
Artist applications are subject to approval.
Applicants must:
- be legally capable of entering into this Agreement;
- provide accurate information;
- have the legal right to sell their Artwork;
- comply with applicable laws;
- complete required identity/payment verification; and
- comply with Art is Lit policies.
Art is Lit may approve, decline or request additional information in relation to an application.
Approval may subsequently be reviewed where necessary to protect Buyers, Artists or the marketplace.
4. Identity and Payment Verification
Artists may be required to complete identity, business, banking or other verification before selling or receiving payouts.
This may include providing:
- legal name;
- address;
- proof of identity;
- proof of address;
- business information where applicable;
- bank details;
- tax information where required; and
- other reasonably necessary information.
Verification may be carried out by Art is Lit or approved third-party providers, including payment providers.
Artists must keep this information accurate and current.
Failure to complete required verification may prevent or delay selling or payouts.
5. Artist Shop and Account
Artists are responsible for maintaining their Artist Shop and account information.
This includes:
- Artist Shop name;
- biography;
- profile and banner images;
- contact details;
- listings;
- inventory;
- delivery settings;
- return information;
- payment/payout information; and
- other relevant information.
Artists are responsible for protecting their login credentials and notifying Art is Lit promptly of suspected unauthorised access.
6. Artwork Listings
Artists are responsible for ensuring that listings are accurate, complete and not misleading.
Listings should include relevant information such as:
- title;
- description;
- dimensions;
- materials;
- medium;
- condition;
- photographs;
- price;
- processing time;
- delivery information;
- country of dispatch;
- edition information where relevant; and
- important characteristics or imperfections.
Artists should disclose information that could materially influence a Buyer’s purchasing decision.
Photographs should represent the Artwork fairly.
Natural variations associated with handmade or individually created Artwork are welcomed, but significant characteristics or imperfections should be clearly shown or described.
7. Originality, Authenticity and Intellectual Property
Artists must have the legal right to sell all Artwork they list.
Artwork must not:
- knowingly infringe another person’s intellectual property;
- falsely claim authorship;
- be counterfeit;
- be stolen;
- contain unlawful material; or
- otherwise breach Art is Lit policies.
Where Artwork is described as original, limited edition, handmade or otherwise having a particular provenance, the description must be accurate.
Certificates of Authenticity must be genuine and correspond to the Artwork supplied.
8. AI-Assisted and AI-Generated Artwork
Where artificial intelligence has played a material role in creating Artwork, this must be disclosed accurately.
Artists remain responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary rights to use, publish and sell the resulting work.
AI-generated Artwork must not deliberately be represented as entirely handmade or traditionally created where doing so would mislead Buyers.
Further requirements may be contained in Art is Lit’s AI Artwork Policy.
9. Artist Pricing
Artists determine their own Artwork prices.
Prices must be accurate, lawful and not misleading.
Artists should take into account their own costs when setting prices, including materials, packaging, delivery expenses, taxes and the Art is Lit marketplace commission.
10. Art is Lit Marketplace Commission
Art is Lit currently charges a standard marketplace commission of:
15% of the Artwork/Product selling price
unless another rate has expressly been agreed.
The Commission is calculated on the Artwork/Product price.
Art is Lit does not currently charge its 15% Commission on the Artist’s separately stated Delivery Charge.
For example:
Artwork price: £100
Art is Lit Commission (15%): £15
Artist’s Artwork earnings: £85
If the Artist separately charges £10 delivery, the £10 delivery charge is allocated to the Artist and is not included when calculating Art is Lit’s 15% Commission.
The Artist’s amount in this example would therefore be:
£85 Artwork earnings + £10 delivery = £95
Art is Lit may change its Commission structure in future. Where a material change affects Artists, reasonable notice will be provided unless immediate changes are required by law, security or another compelling operational requirement.
11. Payment-Processing Fees
Buyer payments are processed using approved third-party payment providers.
Art is Lit currently bears the ordinary payment-processing fee charged for processing a successful Buyer payment.
This means Art is Lit does not currently deduct the ordinary Buyer payment-processing fee from the Artist’s calculated earnings in addition to the 15% Commission.
For example, if Art is Lit’s Commission is £15, a normal card-processing charge incurred by Art is Lit is borne from Art is Lit’s side of the transaction rather than being separately deducted from the Artist’s calculated earnings.
Payment-processing rates can vary according to payment method, card type, country, currency and payment-provider pricing.
For this reason, Art is Lit does not guarantee that payment-processing fees will always be a particular percentage or amount.
This provision relates to ordinary payment-processing costs. It does not mean Art is Lit accepts responsibility for all costs arising from refunds, disputes, chargebacks, Artist errors, courier problems, taxes or other liabilities addressed elsewhere in this Agreement.
12. Delivery Charges
Artists determine the delivery prices offered through their Artist Shop, subject to Platform functionality and applicable law.
Where a Delivery Charge is separately charged to a Buyer:
the Delivery Charge is allocated to the Artist and is not currently subject to Art is Lit’s 15% Commission.
The Artist is responsible for using that money as appropriate to arrange delivery.
The amount charged to the Buyer does not necessarily have to equal the exact courier invoice, provided the delivery price is lawful, transparent and not misleading.
Artists should take into account packaging, appropriate tracking, insurance and other legitimate delivery costs when establishing their delivery rates.
13. How a Successful Sale Is Divided
The following example illustrates the current arrangement:
Artwork: £17.99
Delivery: £3.99
Buyer pays: £21.98
Art is Lit Commission:
15% × £17.99 = £2.70 (rounded)
Artist Artwork earnings:
£17.99 − £2.70 = £15.29
Artist Delivery Charge:
£3.99
Total allocated to Artist:
£19.28
Art is Lit’s gross Commission:
£2.70
Any ordinary Buyer payment-processing fee borne by Art is Lit reduces Art is Lit’s own net proceeds rather than the Artist’s £19.28 allocation.
This example is illustrative. Actual amounts may differ according to the Artwork price, delivery price, taxes, refunds and other circumstances.
14. Artist Payouts
Artist earnings are paid through the payment/payout system available on the Platform.
Artists may be required to connect and verify an account with the relevant payment provider before receiving money.
Payout timing may depend on:
- payment-provider schedules;
- banking processing times;
- verification;
- currency;
- country;
- disputes;
- refunds;
- fraud/security checks; and
- other circumstances outside Art is Lit’s reasonable control.
Art is Lit cannot guarantee that every Artist will receive money on a particular date unless expressly confirmed.
Artists are responsible for ensuring that their bank and payout information remains correct.
15. The 48-Hour Buyer Inspection Period
Art is Lit asks Buyers to inspect physical Artwork promptly after delivery.
The 48-hour Buyer Inspection Period begins when the courier or delivery provider records the order as delivered.
During this period, Buyers are encouraged to report:
- delivery damage;
- incorrect Artwork;
- significant differences from the listing;
- missing items; or
- other concerns.
The 48-hour period is an Art is Lit reporting and marketplace process.
It does not remove or reduce statutory consumer rights.
The 48-hour Buyer Inspection Period should not be interpreted as a guarantee that an Artist’s payment will always remain unpaid or held for exactly 48 hours.
Payment and payout timing is governed separately by the relevant payment-provider arrangements and Platform configuration.
16. Shipping and Fulfilment
Artists are responsible for fulfilling physical orders.
Artists must:
- package Artwork appropriately;
- dispatch within the stated processing time;
- use an appropriate delivery service;
- provide accurate tracking information where available or required;
- retain appropriate proof of dispatch;
- communicate material delays to Buyers; and
- cooperate if delivery problems arise.
Tracked delivery is strongly recommended and may be required by Art is Lit.
17. Shipment Status and Delivery Confirmation
Artists should keep shipment information reasonably up to date.
Where the Artist’s dashboard requires manual shipment updates, the Artist should update the status appropriately as the order progresses.
Once courier tracking confirms delivery, the Artist should update the shipment to Delivered where required by the Platform.
However:
Courier-confirmed delivery is used as the primary reference for the start of Art is Lit’s 48-hour Buyer Inspection Period.
An Artist manually marking an order as Delivered does not by itself establish that delivery occurred at that time.
Similarly, courier tracking marked “Delivered” will be relevant evidence but will not automatically determine the outcome of every delivery dispute.
18. Delivery Problems
If an Artwork is delayed, damaged, lost or reported missing, the Artist must cooperate with the Buyer, courier and Art is Lit.
Evidence may include:
- tracking information;
- proof of postage;
- photographs;
- packaging photographs;
- courier records;
- delivery photographs; and
- communications.
Artists are responsible for packaging Artwork appropriately.
Where damage results from inadequate packaging or another matter for which the Artist is responsible, the Artist may be responsible for associated costs as permitted by this Agreement and applicable law.
19. Cancellations Before Dispatch
Where a Buyer validly cancels an order before dispatch, the Artist must not dispatch it after becoming aware of the cancellation.
Where a full refund is due, the appropriate amount will be refunded to the Buyer.
If the Artist has not yet received the relevant earnings, the Artist will not be entitled to those earnings.
Art is Lit bears its own ordinary payment-processing fee associated with processing the original Buyer payment unless otherwise stated in this Agreement.
An Artist is not normally charged Art is Lit’s ordinary payment-processing fee simply because an order was validly cancelled before dispatch.
Personalised, commissioned or bespoke Artwork may be subject to different cancellation rights under applicable law.
20. Returns and Refunds
Artists must cooperate with legitimate returns and refunds in accordance with the Returns & Refunds Policy and applicable law.
Depending on the circumstances, an appropriate outcome may include:
- full refund;
- partial refund;
- repair;
- replacement;
- price reduction; or
- another agreed solution.
Artists should not attempt to avoid statutory Buyer rights.
21. Refund Before Artist Payout
Where a refund is approved before the Artist has received the relevant earnings, the amount that would otherwise have been payable to the Artist may be adjusted accordingly.
The Artist will not receive earnings relating to amounts properly refunded to the Buyer.
Art is Lit’s ordinary payment-processing cost associated with the original Buyer payment will normally remain an Art is Lit cost.
22. Refund After the Artist Has Already Been Paid
Sometimes a valid refund may become necessary after the Artist has already received their payout.
Where this happens, responsibility will depend on the reason for the refund.
Where the refund represents money that the Artist is required to return under this Agreement, the Returns & Refunds Policy or applicable law, Art is Lit may, acting reasonably and where legally permitted:
- recover the relevant amount from the Artist;
- deduct it from future Artist payouts;
- offset it against other amounts payable to the Artist; or
- request repayment from the Artist.
Art is Lit will not automatically make an Artist responsible for every refund simply because a refund occurred.
Responsibility will be determined according to the circumstances.
23. When an Artist May Be Financially Responsible
An Artist may be responsible for appropriate refund or return-related amounts where, for example:
- the wrong Artwork was sent;
- the Artwork was materially misdescribed;
- significant defects were not disclosed;
- the Artwork was inadequately packaged;
- the Artist failed to dispatch the order;
- the Artist sent an unauthorised substitute;
- the Artwork infringed another person’s rights;
- the Artist breached this Agreement; or
- applicable law otherwise places responsibility on the Artist.
Any recovery should be reasonable and related to the relevant loss.
24. Art is Lit’s Payment-Processing Costs on Refunds
Where Art is Lit’s payment provider does not return an original processing fee after a refund:
Art is Lit will normally bear that ordinary payment-processing cost itself.
For example, if a Buyer receives a full £15.99 refund but the payment provider retains the original payment-processing fee, Art is Lit will normally absorb that processing cost.
The Buyer should not have Art is Lit’s ordinary payment-processing cost deducted from a refund to which they are otherwise entitled.
The Artist will not normally be charged that ordinary processing cost solely because the payment was refunded.
This does not prevent Art is Lit from recovering other amounts for which the Artist is properly responsible under this Agreement.
25. Return Delivery Costs
Responsibility for return delivery is governed by the Returns & Refunds Policy and applicable law.
Where an Artwork is being returned because of an issue for which the Artist is responsible—for example, an incorrect item, material misdescription or inadequate packaging—the Artist may be responsible for reasonable return delivery costs.
Where a Buyer is exercising an eligible change-of-mind right, the Buyer may be responsible for return costs where permitted by law and properly communicated before purchase.
26. Chargebacks and Payment Disputes
A chargeback is different from a normal refund.
If a Buyer disputes a transaction through their bank or payment provider, Art is Lit may:
- investigate;
- request evidence from the Artist;
- provide transaction evidence to the payment provider;
- delay relevant payouts where permitted;
- respond to the dispute; and
- recover appropriate amounts where the Artist is responsible and recovery is permitted by law and this Agreement.
Artists must cooperate promptly.
Art is Lit’s decision to bear ordinary payment-processing fees does not mean Art is Lit automatically accepts all chargeback losses, dispute fees or other losses resulting from an Artist’s acts or omissions.
27. Digital Artwork
Artists selling Digital Products must clearly explain:
- that the product is digital;
- that no physical item will be shipped;
- what the Buyer receives;
- file format where relevant;
- applicable licence restrictions;
- download restrictions where applicable; and
- relevant technical requirements.
Artists must comply with applicable consumer rules concerning digital content.
Where required, Buyers may need to expressly consent to immediate supply and acknowledge the effect this may have on cancellation rights.
28. Customer Service
Artists should communicate professionally and respectfully with Buyers.
Artists should respond within a reasonable time to questions about:
- Artwork;
- orders;
- delivery;
- returns;
- refunds; and
- other transaction-related matters.
Where an issue cannot be resolved directly, Artists must cooperate reasonably with Art is Lit.
29. Reviews and Marketplace Conduct
Artists must not:
- create or request fake reviews;
- improperly incentivise positive reviews;
- pressure Buyers to remove genuine reviews;
- harass Buyers or other Artists;
- discriminate unlawfully;
- use misleading practices; or
- engage in conduct that undermines marketplace trust.
30. Taxes
Artists remain responsible for their own tax obligations, including determining whether they need to:
- register for VAT or other taxes;
- report income;
- pay taxes;
- maintain records; or
- comply with local tax requirements.
Where required by law, Art is Lit or its payment providers may collect, report or remit certain information or taxes.
Art is Lit does not provide individual tax or accounting advice.
31. International Artists and Sales
International Artists are responsible for complying with applicable:
- business requirements;
- tax obligations;
- customs requirements;
- export restrictions;
- sanctions;
- product rules; and
- consumer laws.
Artists should ensure they can lawfully sell and deliver Artwork to destinations they make available.
32. Artist Content and Marketing Licence
Artists retain ownership of their intellectual property, subject to third-party rights.
By uploading content to Art is Lit, the Artist grants Art is Lit a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use that content as reasonably necessary to:
- display listings;
- operate the marketplace;
- promote the Artist;
- promote Artwork;
- feature Artwork in Art is Lit marketing, newsletters, blogs and social media;
- resize or optimise images for technical purposes; and
- maintain transaction and historical records where necessary.
This does not transfer ownership of the Artist’s copyright to Art is Lit.
33. Marketplace Performance
Art is Lit may consider matters including:
- dispatch performance;
- cancellations;
- customer service;
- listing accuracy;
- disputes;
- refund history;
- reviews; and
- compliance with Platform policies.
Where concerns arise, Art is Lit may provide guidance, request improvements or take proportionate action.
34. Suspension and Termination
Art is Lit may restrict, suspend or terminate an Artist Account where reasonably necessary, including for:
- serious or repeated policy breaches;
- fraud;
- unlawful activity;
- intellectual property infringement;
- misuse of payment systems;
- serious Buyer deception;
- security concerns;
- repeated fulfilment failures; or
- legal/payment-provider requirements.
Where reasonably practicable, Artists will be informed of significant action and may be allowed to provide relevant information.
Termination does not remove obligations arising from transactions completed before termination.
Outstanding refunds, disputes, payment adjustments or other liabilities may continue after an Artist Account closes.
35. Independent Artist Relationship
Artists operate independently.
Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment relationship, partnership or joint venture between an Artist and Art is Lit.
Artists remain responsible for their own business decisions, Artwork, fulfilment, taxes and legal obligations.
36. Limitation of Liability
Nothing in this Agreement excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.
Art is Lit provides marketplace infrastructure but cannot guarantee:
- that an Artist will make sales;
- uninterrupted Platform availability;
- successful processing of every payment;
- uninterrupted third-party services;
- delivery performance by independent couriers; or
- that every dispute will be resolved in an Artist’s favour.
Art is Lit will act reasonably in operating the marketplace and administering its policies.
37. Artist Responsibility and Recovery of Losses
Where Art is Lit suffers a direct loss because an Artist has breached this Agreement, acted unlawfully or failed to meet an obligation for which the Artist is responsible, Art is Lit may seek reasonable recovery from that Artist where permitted by law.
This may include appropriate amounts relating to:
- refunds;
- return delivery;
- chargebacks;
- intellectual property claims;
- fraudulent transactions; or
- other losses directly attributable to the Artist.
Where permitted, Art is Lit may offset appropriate amounts against future payouts.
Art is Lit will not seek to make Artists responsible for losses arising solely from Art is Lit’s own breach, negligence, fraud or other matters for which Art is Lit is legally responsible.
38. Changes to This Agreement
Art is Lit may update this Agreement where reasonably necessary.
Where a change materially affects Artists, reasonable notice will normally be provided before it takes effect unless immediate action is necessary for legal, security, fraud-prevention or similar reasons.
Continued use of Artist selling services after an updated Agreement takes effect constitutes acceptance where legally permitted.
39. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Agreement and related non-contractual obligations are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Subject to any mandatory rights that apply, the courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction over disputes arising from this Agreement.
International Artists remain responsible for complying with mandatory laws applicable to them and their sales.
Before commencing formal proceedings, Artists and Art is Lit are encouraged to attempt to resolve disputes through communication and Art is Lit’s support procedures where appropriate.
40. Contact Us
For help with Artist Shops, listings, orders, payments, payouts, shipping, returns or refunds:
Art is Lit Support
support@artislit.com
For legal and administrative enquiries:
Art is Lit — Legal & Administrative Team
ail.admin@artislit.com
Our Commitment to Artists
Art is Lit was created to provide a welcoming marketplace where creativity can be discovered and independent Artists can build their businesses.
Our 15% Commission helps support the operation and development of the marketplace.
Under our current payment model, Art is Lit also chooses to absorb the ordinary payment-processing fee associated with successful Buyer payments rather than deducting that fee separately from the Artist’s calculated earnings.
We believe Artists should understand what they will receive from a sale, what happens to their delivery charge and what happens if an order needs to be cancelled or refunded.
Our goal is to operate transparently, treat Artists and Buyers fairly, and build a marketplace based on creativity, trust and mutual respect.