For artists
For artists
We're Roots. A curated fine art publisher of open edition prints. We reached out because we saw and loved your work. Here's everything you need to check we're genuine: our company details, our product specifications and the exact agreement we'll ask you to accept. We're onboarding founding artists now ahead of our November 2026 launch. We'd love you to be part of it.
I started Roots because the audience for your work is bigger than the people who can afford an original. These are people in rented flats and first homes who like the idea of supporting a local emerging artist but don't know where to start. The local gallery is too expensive but online publishers aren't local and the budget ones are full of AI slop. Roots is their stepping stone. Gallery quality prints in solid wood frames. I want to put your work in front of people who might never have found you otherwise. Your originals are exclusive. Your audience isn't.
Jack Capel-Shyu, Roots
No fees, no lock-in, no exclusive rights. You keep your copyright.
Upload your artwork or photography as a high resolution file. At least 3,600 pixels on the long edge. We print at 300 DPI so our largest prints need large files. Big prints earn you more. You're free to sell the same work anywhere else too.
We handle everything else. Ads, production, sales, delivery and customer support. We'll publish your chosen work and profile on rootsart.co.uk. Your work reaches a national audience and the people near you who want to support a local artist.
Your commission is 50% of the print revenue on every sale. We calculate this from the paper print regardless of frames, print material or discounts. That's £11.25 on a small print up to £97.50 for the largest. We pay you monthly by bank transfer.
Why not use an established publisher?
We're a new publisher and our founding artists shape how it works. If you dislike something in the terms or how we do business, we're just one email away. No waiting weeks for a reply or stuck in exclusive terms that give you 15%.
You get a page with your full catalogue and bio for buyers to land on. The catalogue sorts artists and prints by distance, so if you're near the buyer you're at the top. Galleries reach people who already follow art. We advertise to the people who don't.
Whether directly or in advertising, we'll never support the use of generative AI in art. Not on the platform. Not in ads.
How we print and what we need from you.
We calculate commission from the price of an unframed paper print less VAT. This doesn't change if a customer buys a frame or canvas.
| Size | Price | Less VAT | You earn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | £27.00 | £22.50 | £11.25 |
| Medium | £36.00 | £30.00 | £15.00 |
| Large | £54.00 | £45.00 | £22.50 |
| Extra Large | £81.00 | £67.50 | £33.75 |
| Statement | £153.00 | £127.50 | £63.75 |
| Statement XL | £234.00 | £195.00 | £97.50 |
Our print dimensions across aspect ratios. Get in touch if you'd like a different aspect ratio.
| Size | 1:1 | 4:5 | 3:4 | 5:7 | 2:3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 30x30cm | 20x25cm | 23x30cm | 21x30cm (A4) | 20x30cm |
| Medium | 40x40cm | 30x38cm | 30x40cm | 30x42cm (A3) | 30x45cm |
| Large | 60x60cm | 40x50cm | 45x60cm | 42x59cm (A2) | 40x60cm |
| Extra Large | 80x80cm | 60x76cm | 60x80cm | 59x84cm (A1) | 60x90cm |
| Statement | 100x100cm | 80x100cm | 75x100cm | 84x119cm (A0) | 80x120cm |
| Statement XL | 127x127cm | 100x127cm | 99x132cm | 100x140cm | 100x150cm |
To print at 300 DPI we need these resolutions for each size and aspect ratio.
| Size | 1:1 | 4:5 | 3:4 | 5:7 | 2:3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 3,600px | 3,000x2,400px | 3,600x2,700px | 3,510x2,490px | 3,600x2,400px |
| Medium | 4,800px | 4,500x3,600px | 4,800x3,600px | 4,950x3,510px | 5,400x3,600px |
| Large | 7,200px | 6,000x4,800px | 7,200x5,400px | 7,020x4,950px | 7,200x4,800px |
| Extra Large | 9,600px | 9,000x7,200px | 9,300x7,200px | 9,930x7,020px | 10,800x7,200px |
| Statement | 12,000px | 12,000x9,600px | 12,000x9,000px | 14,040x9,930px | 14,400x9,600px |
| Statement XL | 15,000px | 15,000x12,000px | 15,000x11,700px | 16,500x12,000px | 18,000x12,000px |
You don't need your work digitised to sign up. We can help you do it. We print your work using a JPEG image that you'll upload after onboarding. Most artists get there with kit they already have or can borrow:
Our digitisation guide covers the rest: kit, lighting, glare and colour accuracy, step by step. Email artists@rootsart.co.uk for a copy.
The agreement that we'll ask you to sign when you join.
Artist Agreement
1. Parties. This agreement is made between:
1.1. Roots Art Ltd, company number 17326941, of 66, Paul Street, London EC2A 4NA. Also referred to in this contract as “Roots”, “Roots Art”, “Company”, “we” and “us”.
and
1.2. The Artist, the person identified by the legal name and email address presented on the Acceptance Form and recorded in the Acceptance Records. Also referred to in this contract as "you".
2.1. “Artwork” – each original work you submit to us for sale on the Platform.
2.2. “Product” – the physical reproduction of the Artwork including framed, unframed, and mounted paper prints, and canvas prints, with or without a frame.
2.3. “Base Format” – the unframed paper print of the same Artwork in the same size as the Product sold.
2.4. “Base Print Revenue” – the then-current retail price on the Platform of the Base Format disregarding any promotion or discount under clause 7.2, less VAT and other sales taxes.
a. If at the time of sale, the Base Format is not offered for sale on the Platform or is offered at a retail price of less than 30% of the retail price of the Product sold, then the Base Print Revenue is calculated from the highest of:
i. The most recent available retail price of the Base Format disregarding any promotion or discount under clause 7.2, less VAT and other sales taxes.
or
ii. 30% of the retail price of the Product sold, disregarding any promotion or discount under clause 7.2, less VAT and other sales taxes.
2.5. “Commission Rate” – the percentage stated in the Acceptance Form as recorded in the Acceptance Records.
2.6. “Commission” – the sum payable to you for each Product, calculated as the Base Print Revenue multiplied by the Commission Rate.
2.7. “Effective Date” – the date and time at which you accept this agreement by submitting the Acceptance Form as recorded in the Acceptance Records.
2.8. “Platform” – the website found at domain Rootsart.co.uk and its subordinate domains.
2.9. "Term" – the period from the Effective Date until termination of this agreement.
2.10. “Acceptance Form” – the online form we provide to you to accept this agreement, which presents your legal name, email address, Commission Rate, and agreement version before acceptance.
2.11. “Acceptance Records” – our record of each acceptance of this agreement, containing your legal name, email address, Commission Rate, agreement version, and Effective Date. On acceptance we will email you confirmation of these details together with a copy of this agreement as accepted. You may request further copies.
3.1. You grant Roots Art Ltd a non-exclusive worldwide, royalty bearing licence for the Term to:
a. Reproduce the Artwork as Products and sell those Products.
b. Display the Artwork and Products on the Platform.
c. Use the Artwork, your name, and your likeness in marketing for the Platform and any associated social media, paid advertising, email, and Platform features.
d. Crop, resize, add edge treatments (applying a solid colour around canvas edges) and make reasonable colour adjustments to the Artwork where necessary for reproduction, display, and marketing.
3.2. You retain full copyright and all intellectual property rights over the Artwork. Nothing in this agreement transfers ownership.
3.3. We will credit you as the artist wherever the Artwork is displayed, so far as is reasonably practicable.
3.4. You agree that processes described in 3.1.d do not constitute derogatory treatment for the purposes of section 80 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, provided they do not materially alter the artistic character of the Artwork.
4.1. You warrant that:
a. You are the sole creator and owner of each Artwork or hold all rights necessary to grant the licence in clause 3.
b. No Artwork infringes on the intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party.
c. No Artwork contains unlawful, defamatory, or obscene content.
d. No Artwork was created with generative AI or contains elements created with generative AI.
e. You are over 18 years old and are legally able to enter this agreement.
4.2. You will indemnify us against losses, claims, and costs (including reasonable legal fees) arising from any breach of clause 4.1.
5.1. You remain free to sell, license, and display each Artwork anywhere, including your own website and other marketplaces.
6.1. For each Product sold we will pay you the Commission.
6.2. Payments will be made monthly in arrears and must be paid no later than the 15th day of the subsequent month by bank transfer to the account you provide to us.
6.3. We will provide a sales statement with each payment via email showing units sold, Base Print Revenue, and Commission per Artwork.
6.4. You are not an employee, agent, or partner of Roots Art Ltd. You remain solely responsible for your own tax, national insurance and HMRC registration obligations.
6.5. No Commission is payable on any sale that is refunded or charged back. If a sale is refunded or charged back after Commission has been paid, we may deduct the corresponding amount from future payments to you.
6.6. Commission is inclusive of any applicable VAT. If you are VAT registered, you must notify us and provide a valid VAT invoice before payment.
6.7. If the total Commission due to you in any month is less than £20, we may carry it forward and pay it in the first subsequent month in which the accumulated total reaches £20. We will in any event pay any accumulated Commission with the first payment of each calendar year and on termination.
6.8. We may withhold Commission on any sale we reasonably suspect to be fraudulent, pending investigation, and will pay it promptly if the sale proves genuine.
7.1. We set the retail prices, available print sizes, paper and canvas stocks, frame, and mount options for each Product, and may vary these from time to time at our discretion.
a. We will give you at least 30 days' written notice before reducing the retail price of the Base Format of any Artwork, other than by a promotion or discount under clause 7.2. If you withdraw the affected Artwork under clause 8.1 within that notice period, the reduction will not apply to any sale of that Artwork before its removal.
7.2. We may run site-wide or targeted promotions. These will not alter the Commission paid to you per Product.
7.3. We are not obliged to offer Products of any Artwork for sale and may decline any submitted Artwork or remove any Product at our discretion.
8.1. You may withdraw any Artwork at 14 days' written notice. We will remove any associated Products from sale as soon as reasonably practicable (including retiring any already published marketing materials) and no later than the end of the notice period.
8.2. We may remove any Product at any time, immediately and without notice if we receive an intellectual property complaint, legal demand, or reasonably believe that the associated Artwork breaches clause 4.1.
8.3. Orders placed before removal takes place will be fulfilled and Commission paid as normal.
9.1. This agreement starts on the Effective Date and continues until terminated.
9.2. Either party may terminate for convenience at 14 days' written notice.
9.3. We may terminate immediately if you materially breach this agreement, or where the breach is remediable, you fail to remedy it within 14 days’ written notice.
9.4. On termination of this agreement:
a. We may fulfil any existing orders.
b. We must remove all Products from sale on the Platform within 14 days.
c. We must pay you any outstanding Commission within 30 days.
d. Clauses 4, 10, 11, 12, and 13 survive termination.
10.1. Nothing in this Agreement excludes liability for death, personal injury caused by negligence, or fraud.
10.2. Subject to 10.1 and 10.4, each party's total liability under this agreement is capped at the greater of £500, and the total Commission paid or payable to you in the 12 months before the claim arose. Your liability under clause 4.2 is instead capped at £25,000.
10.3. Neither party is liable for indirect or consequential loss, or loss of profits, revenue, or goodwill.
10.4. The cap on your liability under clause 4.2 does not apply where, at the time you submitted the Artwork, you knew that or were reckless as to whether the Artwork breached clause 4.1.a, 4.1.b, or 4.1.d.
11.1. We process your personal data (including name, contact details, bank details, and location data) in accordance with UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy published on the Platform.
12.1. Entire agreement. This agreement is the entire agreement between the parties regarding its subject matter.
12.2. Neither party may assign this agreement without written consent from the other party.
12.3. No partnership or employment is created by this agreement.
12.4. Notices by email to the Artist’s email address in the Acceptance Records for the artist and to artists@rootsart.co.uk for Roots, deemed to be received the next business day.
12.5. Variation. No variation of this agreement is effective unless it is in writing and agreed by both parties. This must be recorded by our issue of, and your acceptance of, an Acceptance Form for the revised agreement.
12.6. Third party rights. No person other than the parties has any right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce this agreement.
12.7. Severability. If any provision of this agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder continues in full force.
12.8. Execution. This agreement becomes binding on both parties at the Effective Date. Acceptance via the Acceptance Form has the same effect as a signature by each party; no further execution is required.
13.1. This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from it.
Your commission is 50% of the price of an unframed paper print before VAT. So not including the frame, canvas stretching or delivery. The agreement calls this figure the Base Print Revenue.
We calculate commission from the paper prints so that we can price frames and stretched canvas competitively against stores selling frames individually, or canvas stretching and framing as services.
It's a backstop to protect you from underhand pricing tactics. It stops us setting the price of a print to £0 and listing it as out of stock whilst selling framed copies. We won't do this but you shouldn't have to take our word for it. It also soft caps how much we can raise the prices of frames without raising the price of prints.
Nothing changes for you. Promotions and discounts don't alter your commission (clause 7.2). If a print is listed as £27 and a customer has 50% off you'll still receive £11.25.
No. You keep full copyright. You grant us a non-exclusive licence to reproduce, sell and market prints of your work while the agreement runs. You're free to sell the same work anywhere else.
Monthly by bank transfer no later than the 15th of the following month. Balances under £20 roll forward until they reach £20. We'll clear any balance at the start of each year and if you leave. We'll ask for your details after your first sale.
Withdraw any artwork or end the whole agreement with 14 days' notice. We'll fulfil existing orders and pay your commission.
Reply to the email we sent you with questions, or to get started.
We’re inviting a curated selection of emerging artists ahead of our launch. If you found your way here without an invite and want us to look at your work leave your details below and we’ll get in touch.