Life Model Rates 2025

I haven’t re-evaluated the rates I pay to the life models I work with since 2018, so I decided that it’s about time I did!

At the time of writing this the current recommended rate from the Register of Artists’ Models (RAM) is £20 per hour, which is what I currently pay to life models.

As it says on that page:

These rates are meant as a guide.

If you're not quite there yet, please try to get there. If you're already there, please try to raise a bit more. Thank you!

I agree that the rate should be raised a bit more, so to do my bit for that I’ve decided to increase the rates I pay to life models from £20 per hour (as I set it at back in 2018) to £30 per hour, effective immediately.

So for a typical 3-hour life-drawing session the person modelling for me will be paid a total of £90 for their work (plus any travel expenses that are mutually agreed in advance).

As always:

• I am committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment for anyone who models for me,
• I continue to have an opt-in option for the life model’s pronouns to be mentioned in the text accompanying the drawing(s) that are posted on my website or any of my social media accounts (an idea that was discussed and agreed with several of the life models I regularly work with who are trans, non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, etc. back in 2023),
• Life-models will not be personally identified on my website or any of my social media accounts unless they specifically ask to be tagged/linked,
• Any comments about my artwork on social media that I deem to be sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or disrespectful about the model will result in the comment being deleted and the user being blocked (and also reported, if possible).

…and I’m always open to more suggestions about how to improve this aspect of my artistic practice.