My Own Art Story: How a Mother and Daughter Turned Admiration Into Art Ownership
Every May, Andrea visits the Annual Exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) in Edinburgh. She always finds artworks that catch her eye, but a few years ago, one piece truly captured her heart – and she knew she had to have it. At first, the price, though fair for an original artwork, felt out of reach. With the support of Own Art, however, she was able to transform her admiration into ownership – beginning a collecting journey she soon shared with her daughter.
The artwork that caught her eye was a painting called Black Pansies, by Sonia Barton. “I was first drawn to it because of its beautiful colours,” Andrea explained, “and when I noticed the artist’s name, it became even more special to me, as my mother’s name was Sonia.” The painting was priced at around £650 – a considerable sum for Andrea to spend all at once – but she loved it so much that she even thought about taking out a loan to buy it.
Fortunately, after speaking with a member of staff at the RSA, she discovered Own Art, a finance scheme that enables buyers to spread the cost of original artworks over ten months, completely interest-free. “I couldn’t believe it. I applied for an Own Art loan right away. The whole process was unbelievably straight forward – one conversation at the art gallery, a short form which they helped me complete, and the piece was mine. It was fantastic!” Having recently moved into a new home, Andrea shared that her Sonja Barton painting is the only piece she has hung on the walls so far.
“I look at it from my desk, and if I have had a particularly difficult work call, it makes me smile. I feel proud to be able to own such a beautiful piece of original art”
When the RSA Annual Exhibition returned the next May, Andrea intended to just browse without making any purchases. However, after her positive first experience with Own Art – where the monthly payments had been so easy to manage – she didn’t hesitate when another artwork caught her heart. Buying her second original piece through Own Art felt almost effortless:
“I justified it by the fact that my sister spends £60 a month on getting a facial, so that is what I would allow myself for buying art.”
Andrea has always had a deep love for art and fondly remembers the first original piece she ever purchased: “back when I lived in Hebden Bridge, I bought my girlfriend at the time a picture from Nelsons – they used to have exhibitions of work from local artists that changed every few weeks. It was a big picture of lots of cats chasing each other.” Despite her passion, Andrea admitted that the price of original artwork had often been a barrier she couldn’t get past. Like many creative people, however, she found imaginative ways to fill her space with art. Laughing, she recalled sneaking posters from the toilets of a local gallery: “I got some fantastic ones and even had some of them framed. Unfortunately, they don’t put the posters in the loos anymore.”
This year, when Andrea returned to the RSA, she purchased two artworks through Own Art – one for herself and one for her daughter, Amelia – a History of Art student at the University of Edinburgh. With the help of Own Art, “the gift of an original artwork was something very special I was able to give her,” Andrea shared. After browsing the RSA’s online exhibition catalogue, Amelia saw a piece she instantly loved. As it turned out, she knew the artist personally, and the artwork depicted a place she had visited many times – no wonder it resonated so deeply. Andrea then visited the gallery in person to buy the piece Amelia had chosen, as well as “one for myself that really caught my eye,” both through the Own Art scheme.
Andrea emphasised that without Own Art, someone like her would never have been able to purchase original art – or even consider it possible. The two works she bought from this year’s RSA Annual Exhibition were priced at £350 and £450. While modest compared to much on today’s art market, these sums still represent a meaningful expense, particularly for those on lower incomes. Thanks to Own Art, Andrea has been able not only to imagine owning original art but to make that dream a reality. She now looks forward to next May’s RSA exhibition and hopes to expand her collecting journey by exploring other Own Art galleries and exhibitions, both nearby and further afield.
Own Art continues to play a vital role in making art ownership more accessible and affordable. Yet before someone can even consider buying a piece, they must first feel comfortable stepping into a gallery. For Amelia, who grew up visiting museums and galleries, it was often the striking architecture of spaces like the RSA that first sparked her curiosity and drew her inside. She acknowledges, however, that not everyone feels that same sense of welcome. A grand neo-classical façade, she noted, can be just as intimidating to some as it is inspiring to others.
To help bridge that gap and make cultural spaces more inclusive, Amelia advocated for greater diversity in the art that’s shown:
“Exhibitions showcasing working-class artists, queer artists, and global-majority artists, for example.”
Equally important, she adds, are friendly, knowledgeable staff who help visitors feel confident and comfortable in those spaces – something both she and Andrea have always experienced at the RSA.
For this mother and daughter team, art has become more than something to admire from afar – it’s a source of connection, joy, and belonging. Through Own Art, what once felt out of reach has become attainable, turning visits to the RSA from moments of admiration into opportunities for ownership and empowerment. Their story shows how schemes like Own Art don’t just make buying original art financially possible; they nurture a culture of accessibility, inclusion, and appreciation that extends far beyond the gallery walls. As Andrea looks ahead to next year’s exhibition, her growing collection stands as a testament to how art, and the ability to own it, can enrich everyday life in truly meaningful ways.
Discover the artists and galleries mentioned in this article
The Royal Scottish Academy
Website: www.royalscottishacademy.org | Instagram: royal_scottish_academy
Sonia Barton
Website: www.soniabarton.co.uk | Instagram: soniabartonartist
Lily Waite
Website: www.lilywaiteart.com | Instagram: lilyw.art
Evelyn White
Instagram: evelynwhiteart7341
With thanks to Andrea and Ameila for sharing their story with us. This interview has been edited for clarity, length and readability.