I was recently offered quite a lot of money to recreate a piece of work a number of times for a big business. The problem was that it wasn’t my design. I was not familiar with the artist’s work, but the example photographs of what I was to recreate were obviously taken from an artist’s website. Obviously, I did not accept this job and google-image-searched my way into a conversation with the artist being taken advantage of.

I know of many artists personally who have had their designs stolen by various large corporations selling cheap copies or printed t shirts of an illustration, that sort of thing. I’ve also known of people setting up businesses selling copycat work of a maker’s original designs. It has never, to my knowledge, happened to me, but it must be a very stressful and upsetting experience.

My main problem with it is that is disrespects the time, effort and ownership of the work that you have spent so long creating yourself. Art is a personal thing. My designs have been with me since they were a twinkle in my imagination. I’ve spent so much time developing my ideas and learning my craft. And all those years of learning and experience and joy exists in each unique sculpture I have available for my customers to purchase, safe in the knowledge that theirs is the only one of its kind. And that’s not even touching on the fact that if customers actually purchase these cheap, far lower quality copies (often without any knowledge that the design is stolen), then there could be significant financial loss to the original designer. It could absolutely devastate a small business that has fought, tooth and nail, to succeed and support themselves.

And it’s a situation that is so pervasive in our culture. Copyright law only protects the original creator so far, and small business owners can’t afford the legal protection, especially if you’re taking on a corporate giant. We’re all familiar with this type of thing in fast fashion. Although still morally the same, it is slightly different though, in that major fashion labels can afford to legally protect themselves, and can also afford any potential financial hit.

As a GCSE, A Level, or Foundation level student, I was encouraged to copy famous artist’s designs. That is of course how we learn, and it’s not fundamentally problematic for a teenager to fill a sketchbook full of Picasso and Matisse inspired sketches. It does get messier when copying current designers. I have received countless emails from teachers requesting my templates so that their class can make some of my designs. Obviously, I’m not discouraging paper sculpture making- I think it’s fabulous to have a class of children make some paper owls. And I would be flattered (if ultimately too terrified) to be asked to deliver a workshop to help them create some. But nine times out of ten, that isn’t the conversation, so I’m not handing over my templates!

There is a huge difference between copying and inspiration. But it’s not just that. If somebody was at home right now, attempting to recreate my designs to hang up in their living room, I’d probably be more flattered than anything else. The line gets drawn when those copies are handed over as gifts, or are sold at a market stall. Intending to profit from my designs is not okay. Also, without intending to sound disrespectful to this imaginary at-home-maker; the likelihood of those copies being anywhere near the standard of the designs I have spent everyday aiming to improve, through years of testing and learning, are unlikely to be anywhere near the quality of mine. What if customers saw those copies and then assumed mine were the same standard, and therefore not worth the inevitably higher price tag I’m asking for? My prices reflect my quality materials and vast amounts of time exerted, rather than hobby pennies. It could totally damage my reputation. And reputation, for a small business especially, is everything.

So what to do in this situation? The reason I’m writing this is to ask for your support. If you discover a print of one of your favourite artist’s work somewhere that isn’t their website, do make sure that it is affiliated with the artist before making a purchase. If you see that a design has been taken and copied without permission, tell the artist. Tell the company that you know that they have stolen something. Small businesses are often one person, and we can’t fight this alone.