Despite pumping £4.6 million into the nation’s economy, about half of Scotland’s visual artists earn less than £10,000 a year - including from sources to supplement their income from their art - a study has found. Over 70 per cent of artists earn less than £5000 per annum from their visual art, while just seven per cent earn more than £20,000 a year from art sales. The report also found that Scottish artists collectively contribute about £4.6 million to the country’s economy through the expenditure on materials, framing, premises, transport, research and training. But although income earnings were low, the number of artists showing their work was considerable higher, according to the research report Making their Mark: an audit of visual artists in Scotland, which was commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council. Of the 527 artists across Scotland who responded to the survey, 94 per cent had exhibited their work publicly in the last two years, with more than a quarter retaining professional representation through an agent or gallery. At least a third of respondents had exhibited internationally. But more than half of the respondents (55%) relied on teaching the visual arts to supplement their incomes, but despite this, 50 per cent still did not generate more than £10,000 a year. Only 40 per cent said they survived solely on income generated by their art work. Sixty per cent of artists indicated they wanted to improve their marketing and promotion skills. Almost half of the artists which responded held visual art degrees (45%), and more than a third (37%) held postgraduate qualifications. Graham Berry, Director of the Scottish Arts Council, said the audit highlighted the determination of Scotland’s artists to succeed despite experiencing financial difficulties. ‘This audit presents a picture of artists who are highly skilled, active, resourceful and committed to promoting their work to the public at large, despite the very real financial challenges faced by many,’ he said. The full report, 'Making their Mark: an audit of visual artists in Scotland', is available to download as a PDF file from the Scottish Arts Council website, HERE