Help Centre
Questions, answered.
22 common questions about commissioning on gestuo. If you cannot find what you are looking for, our support team is one email away at support@gestuo.com.
Topics: General (4), Pricing & Fees (4), Process & Timeline (4), Refunds & Revisions (3), Rights & Ownership (3), For Artists (4)
General
What is gestuo?
gestuo is a curated marketplace for bespoke art commissions. We connect art enthusiasts with vetted artists, handle the brief, payment, and process — and let the artist focus on the work.
Who is gestuo for?
Collectors looking for a personal piece. Interior designers sourcing for clients. Gift-givers who want something meaningful. Art enthusiasts who want to commission a piece without the friction of finding and vetting an artist alone. And, on the other side, skilled artists who want to be paid fairly for their craft without running a small business.
Where is gestuo based?
We are operated by Shadowdog Ltd, a UK company. All customer data is stored in the European Economic Area. We work with artists and collectors internationally.
Is the artwork AI-generated?
No. gestuo only hosts work made by human artists. We use AI to help you communicate what you want in your brief — the final artwork is always conceived and made by a person.
Pricing & Fees
How much does a commission cost?
Three tiers. Digital concepts: £15–£200. Museum-quality prints: £40–£600. Original commissioned works: £150–£10,000. Artists set their own prices within platform guidelines. The total you pay includes the base price, 10% platform fee, UK VAT (20%), and any shipping.
How much does the artist get paid?
Artists keep 90% of the base price. Our 10% covers payments, messaging, dispute resolution, and the curation that brings collectors to your door.
Are there hidden fees?
No. You see the full cost — base price, platform fee, VAT, shipping — at checkout before you pay. The only variable you might see after the initial brief is shipping, which is calculated by destination and weight at the time of fulfilment.
Is there a launch promotion?
Yes. Until 30 September 2026, we are absorbing 5% of the platform fee on every commission. The discount is applied automatically at checkout.
Process & Timeline
How long does a commission take?
Digital concepts: 1–3 days from brief to download. Prints: 5–10 days including production and shipping. Original commissions: 2–6 weeks depending on medium, size, and revision rounds. Your artist will give you a clear timeline when they accept the brief.
Can I message the artist during the process?
Yes. Once your brief is shared with the artist, you can message them directly. Most artists reply within 24 hours. You will receive email notifications for every new message.
What if the artist does not respond?
Briefs automatically return to the pool after 7 days of no response. You will be notified and can choose a different artist without losing your brief.
What happens after I submit my brief?
Your brief is shared with the artist you selected. They have 7 days to accept or decline. If they accept, a commission is created and you can message them directly. If they decline, your brief returns to the pool and you can pick a different artist.
Refunds & Revisions
What is your refund policy?
Full refund before the concept is uploaded. Partial refund after concept, before delivery. No refund after final artwork has been delivered. Disputes are mediated by our team — we act in good faith on both sides.
How many revisions are included?
Original commissions include up to 3 revision rounds. If you would like more after that, the artist can quote you for additional revisions or you can request a partial refund. Upgrading from a TIER 1 or TIER 2 to a TIER 3 resets the revision counter.
What if I do not like the concept?
First, you can use your included revisions to ask for changes. If after three revisions the concept is still not right, you can request a partial refund. Our team mediates any dispute.
Rights & Ownership
Who owns the artwork?
For digital concepts and prints, you receive a personal-use licence to use the image. For original commissions, you own the physical piece and receive a certificate of provenance. Artists retain the right to use the piece in their portfolio and self-promotion unless you request otherwise in writing.
Can I use the artwork commercially?
For TIER 1 (digital concept) purchases, full commercial use is included unless the artist specifies otherwise in their profile. For TIER 2 and TIER 3, the default licence is personal use. Commercial use can be negotiated with the artist at the brief stage.
Can the artist reuse the work?
Yes. Artists retain the right to use the work in their portfolio, social media, and self-promotion. We never sell or resell the work ourselves. If you need exclusive rights, that can be negotiated and added to the commission agreement.
For Artists
How do I apply to join?
Submit your portfolio and a short bio through our application form. We review every application personally and respond within 5 business days. We accept fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.
How do I get paid?
Through Stripe Connect, directly to your bank account. Payouts are triggered automatically when the commission is completed and the balance is paid. We hold the deposit in escrow until the customer approves the final work.
What fees does gestuo charge artists?
10% of the base price. No listing fees, no subscription, no hidden charges. You set your own prices within platform guidelines.
Can I sell prints of my work on gestuo?
Yes. Once approved, you can list pieces in the marketplace with up to 4 size/format variants. gestuo handles production and shipping via Printful. You keep 90% of each sale.
General
- What is gestuo? — gestuo is a curated marketplace for bespoke art commissions. We connect art enthusiasts with vetted artists, handle the brief, payment, and process — and let the artist focus on the work.
- Who is gestuo for? — Collectors looking for a personal piece. Interior designers sourcing for clients. Gift-givers who want something meaningful. Art enthusiasts who want to commission a piece without the friction of finding and vetting an artist alone. And, on the other side, skilled artists who want to be paid fairly for their craft without running a small business.
- Where is gestuo based? — We are operated by Shadowdog Ltd, a UK company. All customer data is stored in the European Economic Area. We work with artists and collectors internationally.
- Is the artwork AI-generated? — No. gestuo only hosts work made by human artists. We use AI to help you communicate what you want in your brief — the final artwork is always conceived and made by a person.
Pricing & Fees
- How much does a commission cost? — Three tiers. Digital concepts: £15–£200. Museum-quality prints: £40–£600. Original commissioned works: £150–£10,000. Artists set their own prices within platform guidelines. The total you pay includes the base price, 10% platform fee, UK VAT (20%), and any shipping.
- How much does the artist get paid? — Artists keep 90% of the base price. Our 10% covers payments, messaging, dispute resolution, and the curation that brings collectors to your door.
- Are there hidden fees? — No. You see the full cost — base price, platform fee, VAT, shipping — at checkout before you pay. The only variable you might see after the initial brief is shipping, which is calculated by destination and weight at the time of fulfilment.
- Is there a launch promotion? — Yes. Until 30 September 2026, we are absorbing 5% of the platform fee on every commission. The discount is applied automatically at checkout.
Process & Timeline
- How long does a commission take? — Digital concepts: 1–3 days from brief to download. Prints: 5–10 days including production and shipping. Original commissions: 2–6 weeks depending on medium, size, and revision rounds. Your artist will give you a clear timeline when they accept the brief.
- Can I message the artist during the process? — Yes. Once your brief is shared with the artist, you can message them directly. Most artists reply within 24 hours. You will receive email notifications for every new message.
- What if the artist does not respond? — Briefs automatically return to the pool after 7 days of no response. You will be notified and can choose a different artist without losing your brief.
- What happens after I submit my brief? — Your brief is shared with the artist you selected. They have 7 days to accept or decline. If they accept, a commission is created and you can message them directly. If they decline, your brief returns to the pool and you can pick a different artist.
Refunds & Revisions
- What is your refund policy? — Full refund before the concept is uploaded. Partial refund after concept, before delivery. No refund after final artwork has been delivered. Disputes are mediated by our team — we act in good faith on both sides.
- How many revisions are included? — Original commissions include up to 3 revision rounds. If you would like more after that, the artist can quote you for additional revisions or you can request a partial refund. Upgrading from a TIER 1 or TIER 2 to a TIER 3 resets the revision counter.
- What if I do not like the concept? — First, you can use your included revisions to ask for changes. If after three revisions the concept is still not right, you can request a partial refund. Our team mediates any dispute.
Rights & Ownership
- Who owns the artwork? — For digital concepts and prints, you receive a personal-use licence to use the image. For original commissions, you own the physical piece and receive a certificate of provenance. Artists retain the right to use the piece in their portfolio and self-promotion unless you request otherwise in writing.
- Can I use the artwork commercially? — For TIER 1 (digital concept) purchases, full commercial use is included unless the artist specifies otherwise in their profile. For TIER 2 and TIER 3, the default licence is personal use. Commercial use can be negotiated with the artist at the brief stage.
- Can the artist reuse the work? — Yes. Artists retain the right to use the work in their portfolio, social media, and self-promotion. We never sell or resell the work ourselves. If you need exclusive rights, that can be negotiated and added to the commission agreement.
For Artists
- How do I apply to join? — Submit your portfolio and a short bio through our application form. We review every application personally and respond within 5 business days. We accept fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.
- How do I get paid? — Through Stripe Connect, directly to your bank account. Payouts are triggered automatically when the commission is completed and the balance is paid. We hold the deposit in escrow until the customer approves the final work.
- What fees does gestuo charge artists? — 10% of the base price. No listing fees, no subscription, no hidden charges. You set your own prices within platform guidelines.
- Can I sell prints of my work on gestuo? — Yes. Once approved, you can list pieces in the marketplace with up to 4 size/format variants. gestuo handles production and shipping via Printful. You keep 90% of each sale.