I applied for a Street Trading Licence because I live in a seaside resort that attracts many visitors throughout the summer and I cannot afford the rent for a static shop. The aim is to produce saleable paintings within the £25 -£75 range and sit and paint whilst displaying (and hopefully selling) my work.
The Licence restricts me to one area within the town -a ‘dome,’ one of seven in the town that are used as seating areas for people and are adorned with reasonable looking hanging baskets of flowers. My dome is situated directly in the centre of town on the sunny side of the street where everybody passes heading towards the beach. What could possibly go wrong?
Isn’t it ideal? To have the freedom to set up my ‘stall’ when the sun shines and display my work to people desperate to spend their holiday money? Why sit at home painting when I can sit with my paintings outside and wait for the queues to form?
The nice man at the Council has arranged for a trial period of three months ‘to see what complaints they will get.’ Complaints!? who could possibly complain about an artist sitting, painting and displaying his wares? A clause in the contract prevents me from ‘displaying nudity, political works or profanity’ and I got the impression that cartoons and caricatures would be frowned upon so i am going for swift watercolours and impressionist style oils of local scenes with some paintings and prints from some previous popular works thrown in.
There is only another ten days of the school holidays left but I can carry on selling to the locals and we still get a good weekend visitor trade through September. I may also catch some trade on the run up to Christmas so I am going to be busy.
