Where to sell handmade crafts (and make them)
If you have visited the National Gallery in the last couple of years, you may have come across Joaquín Sorolla’s 1895 oil painting Valencian Fishermen, which has been on long-term loan since the summer of 2024. Sorolla, who lived from 1863 to 1923, is celebrated as the master of Spanish luminism, a style built entirely around the way natural light falls on the world. His canvases positively radiate sunshine. He painted almost exclusively outdoors, capturing the Mediterranean light bouncing off the water, bleaching white fabric and warming human skin, while grains of sand from the beach became embedded in the paintings themselves.
What Sorolla understood is that light changes everything. It changes how we see, how we feel and how we create. This summer, with an unusually generous amount of sunshine making its way across the UK, we can all take a leaf out of his book.
What working outside does for you
The science behind spending time outdoors is compelling. Just 15 to 20 minutes outside is enough to lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and trigger the release of endorphins that lift your mood. Sunlight also stimulates the production of serotonin, increasing motivation and job satisfaction. It regulates your circadian rhythm, helping you sleep better at night, boosts your immune system through vitamin D production, and even increases your exposure to phytoncides – airborne compounds released by trees that have been shown to increase the body’s virus-fighting cells.
Not only is natural light good for you, but it also supports creativity in fascinating ways. The sharp, high-contrast light of a bright summer morning is ideal for focused, detailed work, while the softer light of late afternoon lowers what researchers describe as critical vigilance. That more relaxed, associative frame of mind is exactly where creative thinking tends to flourish.
The longer summer days also give us more time to enjoy the activities that naturally recharge our creative batteries. There’s no better example than the Nordic countries, where daylight stretches well into the evening during summer. The famous White Nights and the Midnight Sun are embraced as opportunities to make the most of waking life. In Scandinavia, friluftsliv, or open-air living, is all about hiking through forests, cycling or camping. In Sweden and Norway, Allemansrätten, or the right to roam, gives people the freedom to hike, forage and pitch tents across much of the countryside. Extended daylight also naturally moves socialising outdoors, with al fresco dining and festivals continuing long into the evening.
Where to sell handmade crafts: the outdoor opportunity
For fledgling crafters looking to spend more time outside this summer, the answer to where to sell handmade crafts is right in the open air. Across the UK, the summer calendar is packed with craft fairs, country shows, outdoor markets and community events that bring talented makers together with customers in beautiful surroundings, showcasing work and enjoying the fresh air all at the same time.
Even before selling, crafting outdoors is more practical than you might think. A shaded garden, city park, beach or a balcony can become an enjoyable workspace for many creative hobbies. Knitting, crochet, embroidery, beadwork, sketching and product planning all travel well. Even administrative tasks such as replying to emails, reading or brainstorming your next collection can feel far more enjoyable when you’re not confined to the same four walls.
All you need is a bag, a blanket and a fully charged phone. The aim is simply to get outside, enjoy the natural light and let the science do its work. Any practical challenges are easily overcome. Sitting in the shade reduces screen glare and prevents devices from overheating, while a folding cushion or sturdy bag can double as a makeshift table. A wide-brimmed hat will help too.
Because we often associate parks and outdoor spaces with leisure, it can initially feel unusual to treat them as a workspace. However, spending just 20 minutes sketching, planning or creating outside is far from a holiday. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to support both your creativity and your overall wellbeing.
Ready to take your craft business outside?
The single most important thing to do before packing up your stall to head off to outdoor event is making sure your insurance is in place. No matter where you sell handmade crafts this summer, from village fêtes and artisan markets to major country shows, it’s important to know you’re properly covered.
Our Craft Insurance policy covers unlimited indoor and outdoor events throughout the year, with no need to notify us each time you attend. Public and product liability cover, including professional indemnity as standard up to £500,000, is included, while optional stock and equipment cover is also available within one straightforward policy. Better still, your documents are issued on the same day.
Get your quote online in just a few minutes, then head outside and let your creativity flourish. Sorolla would certainly have approved.