How to Get Work as a Mural Artist
Business · Getting Work · Strategy
This is the question that matters most. Not how to paint — how to get paid to paint. Here's what has actually worked for me, plus other avenues worth exploring depending on where you are in your career.
Method 01 Beginner
Paint in the Street
This is where most of us start, and for good reason. It forces you to paint under pressure, in public, with people watching — which accelerates your improvement faster than anything done in a studio. It's also free advertising to anyone walking past.
Find legal walls. In the UK: Leake Street in London (anything goes), Digbeth in Birmingham, the Tobacco Factory area in Bristol, Stokes Croft. Globally, check legalwalls.net or ask local artists. Know the difference between a free practice wall and a hall of fame — some spots expect your best work, not warm-up doodles.
Method 02 Beginner
Build Connections
Instagram is poor for getting direct work but useful for staying on the radar of other artists, collectors, and buyers. A YouTube channel is better long-term but a serious time investment. The real value is in the people, not the platform — treat both as networking tools, not sales channels.
Method 03 Beginner
Agencies & Listing Sites
Some agencies hold rosters of artists and connect them with commercial clients. Others run job boards where clients post briefs and artists apply. The cut can be steep — anywhere from 20% to 80% — but consistent volume early in your career is worth more than chasing big one-off jobs. UK-relevant options include Artfinder, Great British Brands, and event/experiential agencies that regularly hire live artists.
Method 04 More Established
Contact Graphic Designers & Interior Stylists
These are the people who specify what goes on walls in homes and commercial spaces. Get a proper website — not just an Instagram page — and reach out directly. Cold emails mostly get ignored; meeting them in person at design events works far better.
I once offered to paint live at an interior design show in London in exchange for a free spot. The organiser said yes. I got in front of every designer in the room for free. Do that.
Method 05 More Established
Just Walk In
The most nerve-wracking method, and the one with the highest hit rate. A juice bar in Portobello Road — I walked in, said I could paint their wall, got the job, then painted their second location, then their third. A van and a shop sign another time: £1,000, one conversation. You'd be surprised how many business owners haven't thought about it until you put it in front of them.
Go analogue. Print your portfolio. Bring an iPad. Nobody has time for a link. Be quick, be confident, and practice the pitch on someone you know first.
"If you just rely on Instagram, you won't get work. You need as many avenues as possible."
Other Routes Worth Knowing
Additional Ways to Find Mural Work
Local councils & public art schemes — UK councils regularly commission public murals through programmes like Arts Council England grants and Place-based funding. Get on their lists. Many have open calls posted on their websites.
Property developers & regeneration projects — Developers working on new residential or commercial builds often budget for public art. Companies like Argent, Urban Splash, and local housing associations are worth approaching directly or through a brief.
Upfest, POW! WOW!, and mural festivals — Major festivals place artists and give significant visibility. The work is often low or no pay, but the photography, press, and connections are worth it early on. Upfest (Bristol) is the UK's biggest; internationally look at Pow! Wow! Hawaii, Art Basel satellite events, and MURAL Festival in Montreal.
Hospitality & F&B fit-outs — Restaurants, bars, hotels, and coffee shops are one of the most consistent sources of mural work globally. Target independent openings rather than chains. Follow planning applications in your area — a new venue is often a mural opportunity.
Experiential marketing agencies — Brands regularly hire mural artists for pop-ups, product launches, and retail activations. Search for agencies specialising in brand experience or brand activations and pitch them directly with your commercial portfolio.
Film & TV production — Scenic artists are in steady demand. In the UK, contact production designers through the BECTU directory or approach studios directly (Pinewood, Shepperton, Sky Studios). Rates are union-standard and the work is consistent.
Schools & universities — Educational institutions commission murals regularly, often with grant funding. Usually lower budget but good portfolio work and reliable payment through public sector procurement.
Sportswear & streetwear brands — Nike, Adidas, and smaller streetwear labels frequently collaborate with mural artists for campaigns, store fit-outs, and social content. Approach their brand marketing teams, not their general enquiries inboxes.
Online platforms — Muraly, Artsper, and Yellowkorner list mural artists. Thumbtack and Bark.com generate residential leads in the UK and US. Low prestige, but useful for filling quiet periods.
The artists who stay busy are the ones with multiple channels running at the same time. Street painting, word of mouth, direct outreach, agency work, festival applications — have all of them ticking over.
The snowball is real. One juice bar becomes three. One festival slot becomes a brand commission. But it only starts rolling if you put yourself in front of people consistently. Nobody is coming to find you.
